My guess is that Wide Brim had some sort of physical damage - look at the thread titled "REALLY ODD" and I think you may have the answer. The other one just looks like too much rain.

So short answer, no I don't think either is HVX, but wait for Chris or another expert to weigh in

Alexa

That 2nd pic sure looks like collapsed tissue. The second set tried to blowup, but focus is off.

Paul

The pic with the fingernails... that one looks like discoloration that occurs from fluctuating temps. It's not frost damage, just kind of an early spring thing.

The first hosta, that's hard to say. It could just be frost damage. I'd leave it alone (don't start digging,just yet) and if leaves that emerge later in the season display similar funkiness, then it's probably viral. If they do not, it's more than likely frost damage.

Melissa is right, don't dig yet. You want to be sure it's not just frost damage. Wait for a new flush of leaves and see what they look like. You could also get some test strips if you want peace of mind. Don't be sharing plants with anyone or moving stuff around until you know. Remember the virus is spread by the plant sap, so wash your tools with 10% bleach if you work on or around these plants. Personally I wouldn't touch them with tools until I was sure. The virus will need a wound, like a cut root, or scape in order to enter another plant. You should also know that the virus doesn't spread during the summer or fall. So you should wait until the plant is flowering anyway if you are going to remove it.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: June 2010 Summary Report on HVX

Frost damage looks similar at first to HVX, though as dead cells finish drying it looks quite different - so give it a week. Collapsed HVX cells are not dead or dry and can remain like that all season.

Link below to AHS HVX pics showing 3 types of symptoms - Inkbleed, Collapsing Tissue and Mottled Tissue.

Paul

Here is a link that might be useful: AHS HVX Symptom Pics

Here's the page I meant to link-

Paul

Here is a link that might be useful: AHS HVX Symptom Pics

Thanks, Paul, for the link to the Symptom pictures - they are so clear!

Thankfully I have not seen these symptoms in my garden, but I am very glad to have those images in mind when I am looking as some of the odd leaves that can occur (especially with the strange spring we have been having).

BettyLu

your last 2 pics remind me of my personal hosta paranoia with this Cathedral Windows TC, lol. I probably wouldn't be so paranoid if I didn't sit here staring at my hi-res pics, tho! I THINK both your last 2 pics and my CW are okay.

I don't see anything that jumps out on the wide brim that says "virus", and the lighter coloring between veins you see on the other plant is perfectly normal. The leaf simply hasn't completely colored up yet. My rule of thumb is if the normal color is on the veins and it is a little lighter between (and very symmetric like this) it is perfectly fine. Reverse that so there is a lighter color on the veins and normal color between then you have a problem.

Problem is, there are so many Wide Brim hostas out there with HVX that I wouldn't touch that particular variety with a 10' pole, so consider it suspect.

Great thread with such good photos...Paul, those ones are awesome.

I had a hosta dug up and in a temporary pot the night before last...wouldn't you know it got down to 33 degrees and now I have frost damage on that beautiful specimen. I'd just dug it up because it was nice and big and I needed a "show stopper"...will the white frost damage turn brown? If it can stay white through June 4, next Sat, I'm fine....I'm having an outdoor party for my daughter's graduation. If it's going to get ugly asap, I'll dig up something else for that spot.