Michelle Grabowski, UMN Extension Educator
Canna Yellow Streak Virus (CaYSV) causes yellow to brown streaks along leaf veins of infected plants. Severely infected plants may have poor growth and reduced or no flowers.
Although many viruses are transmitted from plant to plant by an insect vector, there is no known vector for CaYSV other than humans. Cannas are propagated by splitting the rhizome of one plant, and growing the pieces into many new plants. If the original plant is infected with the CaYSV, all new plants arising from that plant will also carry the virus. Once infected with CaYSV, a canna is infected for life. The only effective control is to throw out infect rhizomes and start over with healthy virus free plant material.