Anyone ever see this before?

[otis 226]

This is a Phal leaf that I believe is getting ready to yellow and die, but I've never seen this sort of ring before. I don't think its caused by water, but just not sure?
Tony

[Dendian]

I haven't either - but it looks like mechanical damage...something was put on top of it? I don't think phals get ringworm Was it there before the leaf started to die?

[bearded orchid]

Geez Otis, what a shameless plug for Target

But seriously, never seen that before but I agree its probably mechanical damage.

[ChryssM]

I had the same thing on a Phal & was advised that it was virused & should throw it out. I did because I was a novice and these 2 were both AOS judges and then some ! That was before I found out that looks can NOT prove that a plant is virused !!! I helped my mentor test and throw out 3 LARGE trash cans FULL of virused orchids and we found many plants that deceived us by their looks ! Almost ALL of those trashed were completely healthy looking !!

The moral here is, NOBODY can tell you if it's virused by looking at it ! By looks and unusual habits you can SUSPECT that it MIGHT be virused, but until you test it you won't know ! You HAVE to test it !!

Agdia sells simple test at home kits for about $5 each. If you get together with society members and buy it in larger quantities the price goes down.

[Ray]

I would guess that an insect bit the plant looking for juices, and left behind a bacterium or fungus.

[otis 226]

Thanks guys. You have me ROFL!! I'd say 99.5% sure NOT a virus. And after 30 yrs. in medicine, I know better than to take anyone's advice on that just from a glance. I've not seen it on any other foliage and only noticed it on this one, dying leaf last night, so I'll keep an eye out. OH, and Oprah hasn't visited my wife that I know of.
Best,
Tony

[terra_australis]

It looks like a bacterial infection to me but considering the leaf is on its way out I don't think it is cause for concern.

I invested on a virus kit ...its $10 @ Ebay...It gives me peace of mind that I have no virused orchids...fungi and mites are my most agressive attackers...but I have the best stuff ever...physan and captan...my oldest vanda (Euentha sanderiana)was my very first post and I discovered only mites and fungi was the culprit not virus...its healed and I think it is spiking!