[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Fred, I am of the understanding that Fusarium Wilt is definitely a desease, and a very deadly one at that, and should not be confused with wilting because of loss of roots. Fusarium wilt generally leaves a red lining under the outer layer of tissue along the rhyzome, and excising the bad tissue means cutting until there is no more red visable. I have had a few cases that I suspect was fusarium wilt, with a strong red caste on the leaves, or perhaps a related desease, which was extremely deadly. I have recently arrested the problem in a young plant using Phyton 27, with repeated spraying several days apart.

The comment about it not being worth trying to save plants that are rootless should be read as Fred's opinion, and not one I share at all. I have saved many a plant without roots, and it is well worth while, especially for a favorite plant that is not replaceable.

On the subject of virus, my reading indicates that the only insect that has been proven to transfer virus is aphids, which harbor the virus within their mouth area somewhere, and inject some kind of juices into the plant as part of the process of eating.