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How to Manage PestsUC Pest Management Guidelines
CherryX-Disease (Cherry Buckskin)Pathogen: Phytoplasma organism(Reviewed 11/09, updated 11/09) In this Guideline: SYMPTOMS AND SIGNSDiseased trees produce pebbly, leathery-skinned, pale fruit that is most evident at harvest. On Mahaleb rootstocks, trees rarely have fruit symptoms but suddenly wilt and collapse above the graft union. X-disease is caused by a phytoplasma organism that is found in phloem cells of infected trees. Trees are typically infected in summer and fall (July to October) and show symptoms the following year. Comments on the DiseaseX-disease, also called cherry buckskin, is a major cause of tree decline and serious losses of sweet cherry trees in some areas of California, including the northern San Joaquin Valley (not south of Madera), Sierra foothills, and North Coast. ManagementThe disease is spread by leafhoppers, which acquire the disease organism when feeding on diseased cherries or other plants that host the disease organism.
In areas where X-disease is prevalent, survey the orchards looking for fruit symptoms just before harvest. Only a single limb may have symptoms in newly infected trees. Collect fruit with symptoms and send them to a lab for confirmation. Mark any infected trees for removal after applying a postharvest treatment for leafhoppers. Be sure to treat stumps so that they do not resprout. Infected trees may live for many years with minimal foliar symptoms (but clear fruit symptoms) and serve as infection reservoirs for the rest of the orchard. It is critical to detect infected trees just as fruit becomes mature and symptoms are obvious. Orchards on Mahaleb rootstock rarely show fruit symptoms but instead exhibit yellowing foliage and a rapid decline a few months after infection. These symptoms may look similar to the rapid decline caused by root rot or gopher damage. Survey orchards on Mahaleb rootstock periodically during the season (i.e. once in spring, summer, and fall) for signs of tree decline. Check the wood under the bark at the graft union for the characteristic appearance of zippering in the wood, which indicates X-disease infection. Mark and remove infected trees after a postharvest treatment for leafhoppers. PUBLICATION
UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines:
Cherry Diseases
J. E. Adaskaveg, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside Acknowledgment for contributions to Diseases:W. D. Gubler, Plant Pathology, UC DavisB. L. Teviotdale, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier |