More About Emerging Roselle Diseases and Pests

Roselle—TYLCV Positive and Anthracnose

In late September, we posted a warning about a new pest found on the Roselle in the VegHeadz garden. Extension agent Mark Tancig subsequently delivered specimens to the UF Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic for analysis. The analysis report can be seen below. It is not good news. The Roselle is infected by a virus, by a fungus, and two insect pests. The most worrisome part of this report is that these pests and diseases can affect other plants such as cotton, okra, tomatoes, beans, and others.  

Any plants suspected of being infected, either Roselle or any of the other species listed in the report, should be pulled and disposed of in the manner recommended by the lab.

The infestation are not happening just in our garden – the distorted and damaged Roselle leaves have been sighted in other areas of the city as well as in adjoining counties and other areas of Florida.  Additional information can be obtained from the Extension here in Leon County or in your area. This is potentially devastating to home gardeners, market gardeners, and farmers who produce any of the affected species. 

Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic 155 Research Road Quincy, FL 32351 Phone: 850-875-7140Fax: 352-846-6617  Email: fbiriarte@ufl.edu

PLANT SPECIMEN DIAGNOSTIC REPORT       Specimen # 2025-190

SUBMITTED BY Mark Tancig Leon County Extension Office 615 Paul Russell Rd Tallahassee, FL  32303 tancig00@ufl.edu		PLANT Hibiscus (Hibiscus sp.)		METHOD SUBMITTED Walk-In
		VARIETY Roselle		CLASS Woody Ornamental
		INTERNAL LAB NO.	LAB FEE $40.00	REPLY FROM LAB September 29, 2025
PHONE 850-606-5217	COUNTY LEON, FL	PLANT MATERIAL Leaves		RECEIVED BY LAB September 24, 2025
CONDITION UPON ARRIVAL Good sample, fair information		DIAGNOSTICIAN(s) Fanny Iriarte, Ph.D.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS Gnarled, deformed leaves. Mottle or mosaic.		DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE(S)     __ Agdia Immunostrip  X  Microscopic __ Reverse transcription-PCR     __ Fatty Acid Analysis  X  Molecular Analysis __ Serological     __ Incubation __ Other __ Techniques     __ Isothermal amplification  X  PCR __ Visual Observation     __ Lab Tests and Services __ Recombinase polymerase amplification      X  Media __ Reverse transcription real time PCR RT-qPCR
GROWER INFORMATION Mark Tancig Leon County Extension Office 615 Paul Russell Rd Tallahassee, FL  32303 850-606-5217 tancig00@ufl.edu		REFERRAL INFORMATION

Diagnosis/Recommendations 

Diagnosis:	Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) (Begomovirus)
Category:	Virus
Comments:	Your Hibiscus plant tested POSITIVE for Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). TYLCV is one of the most important viral diseases of tomato. TYLCV has been reported to have a diverse host range including 49 plant species belonging to 16 families around the world. In the U.S. it is known to infect plants in the solanaceous family, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and Ornamentals (including Petunia, Lisianthus, hibiscus, poinsettia and others). For more information see: Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus | NC State Extension Publications MANAGEMENT As you know there is no control for viral diseases and the best thing you can do is remove and discard infected plant material away from the site to avoid the spread. It is also important to control the whiteflies to stop the spread of the virus to other host plants nearby. Most of the recommendations for management of whiteflies are related to tomato crop but some information may be useful and applicable to a poinsettia garden in the link below. ENY-478/IN871: Recommendations for Management of Whiteflies, Whitefly-Transmitted Viruses, and Insecticide Resistance for Production of Cucurbit Crops in Florida You may also want to contact Dr. Martini (cc here) for simple methods to control whiteflies in garden setting.
Diagnosis:	Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)
Category:	Fungus
Comments:	Colletotrichum gleosporioides abundant spores were also recovered from leaf and stem reddish spots. The disease is called Anthracnose. For more information about Anthracnose please see: Anthracnose Disease of Ornamental Plants: A Pictorial MANAGEMENT Remove and discard infected plant material away from the site. Avoid or reduce overhead irrigation, water early in the morning and avoid stress to the plant. Avoid overwatering. Avoid any stress to the plant. Early spring protectant fungicide may help prevent further infections. For possible chemical control recommendations see "Anthracnose" at: 2017 Southeastern US Pest Control Guide for Nursery Crops and Landscape Plantings.
Diagnosis:	Two-spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) (syn. Cotton Jassid)
Category:	Insect
Comments:	Severe damage caused by two-spotted cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) also known as "Jassid" was also confirmed by our entomologist Dr. Isaac Esquivel. This insect pest, first found late 2024, can cause severe damage on cotton in Florida. It can also attack okra, eggplant, tomato, hibiscus and others. For more information on this pest please see:  Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper: A New Pest Threat in Florida Vegetables - UF/IFAS Extension Alachua CountyAlso see: PEST ALERT: Two-spot cotton leafhopper For any questions or concern about management of this insect pest, please contact Dr. Esquivel. Please be advised that records produced as a result of this analysis are public records subject to disclosure under Florida law. Plant Disease Diagnostician: Fanny Iriarte, Ph.D. Our lab website: http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/ AND https://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/u-scout/index.html

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