Pacific Northwest 1998 An Online Guide to Plant Disease Control

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OSU Extension Office
 
Cherry -- Cherry Mottle Leaf
 
Cause: The Cherry mottle leaf virus is transmitted by budding, grafting, and has been experimentally transmitted by a microscopic eriophyid mite, Eriophyes inaequalis. The native bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata, is considered the mite's principal host and is a symptomless natural host of cherry mottle leaf. The disease occurs in a few orchards in all cherry-growing areas of Oregon and Washington, some of which have become infected through planting non-certified, symptomless cultivars.
Symptoms: A mottle-leaf pattern is the principal symptom, being most severe on 'Bing', 'Royal Ann', and 'Lambert'. Mottling is irregular and chlorotic, causing a leaf distortion early in the season; leaves pucker increasingly as the season advances. Leaves are smaller and may develop shotholes but do not fall. When severe, as in the case of 'Bing', fruits are abnormally small, lack flavor, and ripen later than normal. Tree growth is retarded, and shoots develop a rosette appearance. Less susceptible cultivars have the same general symptoms but are less severe.

Leaves are deformed, tattered and chlorotic.

 
Cultural control:

  1. Plant only recommended, numbered cultivars.
  2. Remove trees showing severe symptoms. They will never be profitable.
  3. Remove wild cherry trees from around the orchard.
References:
James, D. and S. Mukerji. 1993. Mechanical transmission, identification, and characterization of virus associated with mottle leaf in cherry. Plant Disease 77:271-275.
Content edited by: Jay W. Pscheidt on January 1, 2009
 
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