Jul 19, 2021

New Extension app created for little cherry disease, pest scouting

Download a new phone application designed to help orchardists scout, sample and identify symptoms and insect vectors of X-disease phytoplasma and little cherry virus now available at both Apple and Android.

Designed by Washington State University (WSU) and Oregon State Extension, this guide illustrates: cherry symptoms, stone fruit symptoms, symptom variation, leafhopper vectors, scouting and sampling.

Adults from the second generation of leafhopper vectors of X-disease will be present soon. This app provides grower with multiple images of important leafhopper species to help them identify what they find in their traps and sweeps.

X-disease phytoplasma and little cherry virus cause small cherry symptoms often described as Little cherry or X-disease. Diseased trees produce cherries of small size and poor color and flavor making the fruit unmarketable. This problem is at epidemic levels in the Columbia River basin with high incidence in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties and presence in north central Washington and the Dalles area  in Oregon. Timely scouting and aggressive tree removal are essential to reduce the spread of the disease.

To download the App search for “Little Cherry Scouting Guide'”in the App store. For an Apple version, click here or for Android version click here.

Funding support from the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission and the WSU Tree Fruit Endowment.

Contacts

Tianna DuPont, WSU Extension (509) 713-5346  [email protected]
Bernardita Sallato, WSU Extension (509) 439-8542 [email protected]
Ashley Thomson, OSU Extension (541) 296-5494 Ashley.Thompson@oregonstate.edu
Karen Lewis, WSU Extension (509) 760-2263 [email protected]