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The influence of media type and moisture on adult development and pupal mortality in western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera:Tephritidae), was assessed using the pupal-adult and the larval-pupal stage. Inside containers, a higher percent of flies that emerged from dry loam was deformed (44.2%, 1-era-depth loam; 84.4%, 5-era-depth loam) than flies from 16% moist loam and dry and 16% moist lab soil (peat moss-sand mix) (0-14.9%). Percent of flies deformed from dry sand (22.1%, 1-cm depth; 49.5%, 5-era depth) was greater than from 16% moist sand and dry and 16% moist peat moss (0-10.5%). Percents of flies deformed from 8% moist loam, lab soil, sand, and peat moss (0-5.8%) did not differ. Pupae suffered higher mortality at 7 and 14 d after larvae were dropped onto dry loam and dry sand (68.2-94.0%) than dry lab soil and dry peat moss (3.0-53.0%); respective mortalities at 21 and 28 d were similar (81.3-96.0 versus 64.7-97.9%). Pupal mortality in moist media was lower (0.5- 40.3%) than in dry media. In outdoor tests, pupal mortality was also higher in dry loam than other dry media. In nature, 60.9% of pupae in dry sandy loams in late summer were dead. Results suggest R. indifferens has not yet evolved to fully cope with dry soils and that pupation in media with traits similar to those of peat moss or a peat moss-sand mix could reduce negative effects of dry environments on fly survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for organic cherries offers producers a premium price to improve their commercial viability. Organic standards require that producers find alternatives to pesticides. Soil treatments to control the European cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) (Diptera: Tephrididae) appear to be an attractive option. However, soil treatments can only be effective if the migration of flies is low, because mature flies may migrate from near-by trees for oviposition. To examine the general potential of soil treatments and to understand the dispersal and flight behaviour of R. cerasi within orchards, experiments using netting to cover the soil were conducted in two orchards with different pest pressure during two years. The netting reduced flight activity by 77% and fruit infestation by 91%. The data showed that the flies have a dispersal of less than 5 m within orchards, which is very low. The low thresholds for tolerance for infested fruit in the fresh market creates a strong economic incentive for control, therefore, soil covering is a promising strategy for controlling R. cerasi in commercial orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a highly destructive pest. The low tolerance for damaged fruit requires preventive insecticide treatments for a marketable crop. The phase-out of old insecticides threatens cherry production throughout the European Union (EU). Consequently, new management techniques and tools are needed. With the increasing number of dwarf tree orchards covered against rain to avoid fruit splitting, crop netting has become a viable, cost-effective method of cherry fruit fly control. Recently, a biocontrol method using the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana has been developed for organic agriculture. However, for most situations, there is still a lack of efficient and environmentally sound insecticides to control this pest. This review summarizes the literature from over one hundred years of research on R. cerasi with focus on the biology and history of cherry fruit fly control as well as on antagonists and potential biocontrol organisms. We will present the situation of cherry fruit fly regulation in different European countries, give recommendations for cherry fruit fly control, show gaps in knowledge and identify future research opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Autochthonous genotypes of fruit species are very important source of genetic variability and valuable material for breeding work. Fruit Research Institute-Cacak has a long tradition of studying autochthonous genotypes of temperate fruits sporadically spread and preserved in some localities in Serbia. Over 2005-2006, the following properties of nine autochthonous sour cherry genotypes grown in Feketic region were investigated: flowering and ripening time, pomological properties, biochemical composition of fruits and field resistance to causal agents of cherry diseases - cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella jaapii (Rehm.) v. Arx.), shot-hole (Clasterosporium carpophilum (Lév.) Aderh.) and brown rot (Monilinia laxa /Ader et Ruhl./ Honey ex Whetz.). The genotypes were tested for the presence of Prune dwarf virus and Prunus necrotic ring spot virus. In majority of genotypes fruits were large, with exceptional organoleptical properties, whereas ripening time was in the first ten or twenty days of June. The highest fruit weight was observed in F-1 genotype (8.1 g). The highest soluble solids and total sugars content were found in F- 4 genotype (17.60% and 14.25%, respectively). As for field resistance to causal agents of diseases and good pomo-technological properties, F-1, F-2, F-3, F-7 and F-8 genotypes were singled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the type of prey consumed by the predatory coccinellid, Stethorus punctum picipes (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), we identified food remains, based on body parts or whole bodies of mites, in the guts of adults collected in two fruit orchards (apple and cherry) and one vineyard in Washington State, United States in August and September 2009. Various plant-inhabiting mites, including species in the families Stigmaeidae, Eriophyidae, Phytoseiidae, and Tetranychidae, were found in guts of S. p. picipes collected on grapevine where no tetranychids were observed. On apple, where tetranychids were abundant, gut contents contained Tetranychidae, Stigmaeidae, and Eriophyidae. On cherry, where tetranychids were abundant, only Tetranychidae were found in gut contents. These results indicate that S. p. picipes adults can feed on alternative plant-inhabiting mites, in particular, when tetranychids are scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BACKGROUND: The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is native to Asia and was first detected in the North American mainland and Europe in 2008-2010. Drosophila suzukii is a serious economic pest to stone and small fruits because the female lays eggs within ripening fruit on a plant before harvest, which can lead to crop loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of blackberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes, raspberries and strawberries to D. suzukii among various ripeness stages and cultivars. RESULTS: In 26 no-choice and choice replicated laboratory cage tests on ripeness stages, fruits were generally susceptible to D. suzukii once fruits started to color. Few D. suzukii developed on green fruit, wine grapes or overripe blueberries. In seven cultivar tests, D. suzukii preferences ranged from no differences to fourfold differences for specific cultivars of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and wine grapes. As brix levels increased, more eggs were laid or more D. suzukii developed on blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries and strawberries. In a choice test of various fruit types, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries and blueberries were more susceptible to D. suzukii than green table grapes ('Thompson'). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that fruits may become susceptible to D. suzukii as they start to turn color, and that specific varieties of grapes and overripe blueberries have low susceptibility to D. suzukii. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cherryslug, Caliroa cerasi, is an important pest of organic pear production in New Zealand. It is reported to have two generations per year and cause severe leaf damage, particularly through the feeding of second generation larvae in mid to late-summer. This insect has been little studied in Central Otago. Adult cherryslugs were monitored with sticky traps in a block of ‘Taylor's Gold’ pears in the summers of 1999–2001 and the catches were used to assist in timing the single application each season of a range of organically-acceptable insecticides in randomized block experiments which included untreated control trees. The insecticides were: 1999–2000, ryanodine, lime sulphur, kaolin in January, kaolin in February; 2000–01, pyrethrum +mineral oil, lime sulphur, neem extract, kaolin in January. Efficacy was assessed using pre- and post-treatment larval counts and leaf damage. The impact of pre-treatment larval density on post-treatment efficacy was investigated to determine a preliminary spray threshold, specifically for pyrethrum+mineral oil. The adult monitoring indicated that cherryslug is univoltine in Central Otago, with the first adults appearing at the end of December. All the insecticides tested significantly reduced damage from cherryslug larvae and, if registered, could be used by organic growers. In both seasons, kaolin application in January, which targeted the adult cherryslugs, was more effective than all the other products, which were applied in February against the larvae. On the other hand, kaolin applied in February 2000 resulted in greater cherryslug damage than occurred with the other insecticides applied at that time. Larval density had a significant effect on the efficacy of pyrethrum+mineral oil, particularly when >10 larvae could be counted per minute on the trees before treatment. The implications of this result and the comparative efficacy of the different treatments are discussed in relation to organic pear production in Otago. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Plum bark necrosis stem pitting associated virus (PBNSPaV) has occurred globally over the last two decades and is becoming one of the major agricultural issues of stone fruits. The virus was detected for the first time in plums and has been reported in the other stone fruit species. The agent, whose dissemination mode is still unknown, has been first reported in cherries in Turkey grown in Malatya province. In this study, the K1 isolate of PBNSPaV, identified in a sweet cherry plant with severe stem pitting and gumming symptoms on its trunk, was partially characterised. A fragment of Hsp70h gene located on ORF3 of viral genome has been cloned, sequenced and analysed phylogenetically (Accession number. FJ231498). The PBNSPaV-K1 isolate showed 93-96% nucleotide sequence identity to sequences of Italian and American isolates in databases. An RNA probe has been raised for fast and reliable detection of the agent by molecular hybridisation. The studies on development of genome specific primers for the detection of the isolate by one-tube RT-PCR have failed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogen Coccomyces hiemalis Higg. causes big losses in nursery gardens, generating massive defoliations. The fungus causing this disease produces infections in the spring, during flowering and during petal falling, by generating a mycelium that has several infection cycles in the vegetation stage, with 7-9-day incubation period, if the mean temperature is 17.6- 21.8deg;C. The leaves attacked fade under conditions of premature defoliation and shoots and twigs die down, at the beginning of autumn. To determine the attack caused by Coccomyces hiemalis Higg. that produces cherry tree anthracnose, the main disease affecting this tree species, we carried out observations on a number of 8 cherry tree varieties and determined attack's risk degree, frequency and intensity during the maximal attack period. We have done research on the influence of varieties, shapes and distance crown planting trees on the main diseases and pests attack. The fungus forms completed in the conditions of the area, with a high degree of sporulare being pretentious to temperature (biological threshold 10°C)and humidity. Terms of disease evolution were fired since April when he made ascosporilor design. Varieties' resistance was determined according to the results obtained; then we determined the warning and the application of phyto-sanitary treatments. From the viewpoint of the attack caused by Coccomyces hiemalis Higg., in the South-West of the country, we grouped the cherry tree varieties as follows: slightly attacked (SA: Seneca, Cerna, Ulster); medium attacked (MA: Timpurii de Mai, Rosii de Bistrita); strongly attacked (PA: Van, Bing, Germesdorf). To reduce the environmental pollution occurred during the chemical control of this disease, we recommend the introduction of slightly- and medium- attacked varieties in cherry tree orchards. Compared with the number of 8 phyto-sanitary treatments warned, we applied only 4 treatments, in the slightly attacked varieties: Seneca, Cerna, Ulster; this represents a 50% reduction of treatments and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinosad bait is used to control western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), by killing flies before they oviposit. However, effects of different insecticide baits on management of reproductively mature flies are largely unknown. Objectives here were to determine mortality and oviposition of reproductively mature R. indifferens exposed to different insecticide baits for varying periods in the presence and absence of dried yeast extract and sucrose food, Spinosad bait (spinosad in a mix of protein, sugar, and other ingredients) was compared with acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid in sucrose or Nu-Lure + sucrose bait. When flies were exposed to treatments and then offered cherries, Prunus avium (L.) L., for oviposition or when they were exposed to treatments and cherries simultaneously, both thiamethoxam bait and imidacloprid bait resulted in higher mortality and lower oviposition than spinosad bait and acetamiprid bait. Exposures to thiamethoxam bait and imidacloprid bait for six and 24 h were similarly effective, but 6-h exposures to spinosad bait and acetamiprid bait were less effective than 24-h exposures. There was little difference between sucrose and Nu-Lure + sucrose baits. When food was present, thiamethoxani bait and imidacloprid bait caused greater mortality and lower oviposition than spinosad bait and acetamiprid bait, but when food was absent, patterns were less consistent. Because of its ability to kill flies sooner after it is exposed to flies when food is present or absent, thiamethoxam or imidacloprid in sucrose or Nu-Lure bait may reduce infestations in cherries more than spinosad bait when mature R. indifferens are present in orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear which ratios of yeast extract to sucrose result in maximum egg production and survival in many tephritid fruit flies. Objectives here were to determine yeast extract:sucrose ratios that maximize egg loads without compromising survival in western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, and their effects on mortality caused by spinosad bait (GF-120). Yeast extract:sucrose ratios of 20:80 and 30:70 maximized egg loads without reducing survival in most cases. In 1 experiment, mortality of flies with low to high egg loads exposed to fresh GF-120 for 1 or 2 h in the absence of food did not differ. In a separate experiment, egg loads were lowest in flies fed 0:100 and 1:99 diets and highest in flies fed 20:80, 30:70, and 50:50 diets. When these flies were exposed to dried GF-120 for 6 h in presence of yeast extract and sucrose, percent mortality was lower in flies fed 20:80 and 30:70 (40%) than 0:100 (69%) and 1:99 (63%) diets. In another experiment, egg loads were lowest in flies fed 0:100 and 1:99 diet and highest in flies fed 20:80 diet. When these flies were exposed to dried GF-120 for 6 h in the presence of sucrose only, percent mortality was lower in flies fed 20:80 (39%) than 0:100 (72%) and 1:99 (62%) diets. High yeast extract:sucrose ratios result in high egg loads in R. indifferens and may reduce the fly's feeding responses to GF-120, although not to the extent that the bait is rendered completely ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the substantial progress during the rearing of the European cherry fruit fly. Rearing of cherry fruit fly includes an adequate oviposition device and a suitable larval diet. However, there was a lack of reproducible rearing method in the past. Further, it offers information on new and environmentally sound control strategies of the pest, which relies on the knowledge ascertained from basic research.

We studied the timing of reproductive maturity of cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew), a key pest of sweet and tart cherries in the eastern United States. To determine when cherry fruit fly females become reproductively mature in managed and natural habitats, we deployed traps in sweet and tart cherry orchards and nearby stands of the ancestral host tree, black cherry. Flies were removed from the traps arid females were dissected to determine the presence of fully developed eggs. We found that capture of reproductively mature female flies occurred earlier in orchards that are not sprayed with insecticides than in sprayed orchards or in black cherry tree sites. In addition, the gap between the flights of immature and mature females in unmanaged sweet or tart cherry orchards was shorter than in managed orchards or black cherry tree sites. We also determined fruit color, size, and skin hardness to characterize the progression of fruit maturity. We found that fruit became mature earlier in sweet and tart cherry orchards than in black cherry tree sites. This study indicates that the timing of female reproductive maturity is plastic and varies among cherry fruit fly populations present in distinct habitats. Variation in the timing of reproductive maturity is related to the fruit maturity period of distinct host plant species and to orchard management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prune dwarf virus (PDV), a pathogen of stone fruit trees worldwide, shows a great variability in its biological, serological and molecular properties. The coat protein sequences of ten PDV variants from different stone fruit tree species in Turkey were determined. The sequence for each variant was 657 nucleotides in length. The phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of the Turkish variants and of additional sequences of other PDV variants from international databases indicate the existence of four groups of PDV variants: one contains cherry variants that differs in group specific conserved amino acids; a second contains one apricot and cherry variants, most members of the group being Turkish variants; a third contains mixed variants from cherry, peach, plum trees and an almond tree; and a fourth contains only variants from almond trees. Based on their hosts, we propose the nomenclature of these groups as cherry I, cherry II, mixed and almond groups, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of spinosad bait and various insecticides, the presence of sugar in insecticides, and diet on feeding responses and mortality in western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Dipt., Tephritidae), were determined. Numbers of feeding events on insecticides with sugar were greater than on insecticides alone, but there was only a small effect of diet on feeding responses to insecticides with sugar. Feeding durations on imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and acetamiprid with sugar were shorter than on sugar water and spinosad bait, as the neonicotinoids paralysed flies quickly. Flies that fed on sugar only (nitrogen-starved) suffered higher mortalities when exposed to spinosad, thiamethoxam and azinphos-methyl than to imidacloprid, acetamiprid and indoxacarb, and mortality in between these two groups of treatments when exposed to spinosad bait. Mortalities were greater when sugar was added to insecticides, and were higher in nitrogen-starved than fully-fed (yeast extract + sugar fed) flies. Flies that fed once on thiamethoxam were killed more quickly than those that fed once on spinosad bait and spinosad. Results suggest that thiamethoxam is comparable to spinosad in its effects on mortality, and that using it with sugar in bait may also have similar results as using spinosad bait or spinosad. One benefit of using thiamethoxam with sugar may be that it kills flies more quickly, before they can oviposit, than spinosad bait, although whether a fly will feed on it may depend on how much sugar or nitrogenous food it has eaten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to develop primers and a real time PCR protocol for the postharvest biocontrol yeast Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum (Cim). The application of this technology was developed to quantify Cim on the surfaces of apple, two pear cultivars, and sweet cherry fruit treated over a range of concentrations. Statistically significant relationships were observed between Cim DNA on fruit surfaces, expressed as μg/m2, and CFU/L of dip suspensions for apple, pear, and sweet cherry. In addition, the relationship for each fruit was significantly different from the other three fruits. Threshold values of concentrations of Cim DNA on the fruit surface were calculated based on regression equations and a dose of 2.0×1011 CFU/L of dip suspension, the dose for optimum decay control, and were 4.8, 7.0, 16.5, and 25.2μg/m2 for Bosc pear, Lapins sweet cherry, d’Anjou pear, and Golden Delicious apple, respectively. Monitoring Cim DNA concentration on fruit surfaces will assure that Cim is being properly applied to fruit and that a sufficient number of cells are present for optimum decay control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Little cherry, an economically important disease of cherry is caused by at least two different viruses. One of these is Little cherry virus 1 (LChV-1) for the detection of which no efficient serological tools are available, so that diagnosis is based on molecular methods. In this study, different immunization strategies for producing antibodies against the viral coat protein of LChV-1 were tried, using either purified virus preparations, or bacterially expressed protein, or a DNA vector that expressed the cloned coat protein (CP) gene in vivo. Effective induction of specific antibodies to LChV-1 CP was obtained using DNA intramuscular immunization followed by a single boost with the recombinant protein. The entire coat protein sequence was cloned in a mammalian expression vector and, after being coated by an amphiphilic non-toxic reagent was delivered into rabbit. A protein boost increased the specific immune response against the virus protein. The sensitivity of this antiserum is lower if compared with that of antisera raised conventionally against other viruses, thus it requires improvements for use for diagnostic purposes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the sequences of the smallest double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) associated with cherry chlorotic rusty spot (CCRS) and amasya cherry diseases. The sequencing of several cDNA clones showed the presence of three CCRS-associated small dsRNAs. The small dsRNA A had a length of 574bp while small dsRNA B was 606 and 608bp in ACD and CCRS. The detailed analysis revealed that the 5' terminal region of the small dsRNA B and its 3' counterpart contain some nucleotides that are conserved.

Little cherry disease, one of the major viral diseases of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) worldwide, is associated with either of two closteroviruses, Little cherry virus 1 (LChV- 1) and Little cherry virus 2 (LChV-2). Two sets of primers corresponding to a portion of the replicase gene of LChV-1 and LChV-2 were used in one-tube reverse-transcription polymerase chain reactions to detect these viruses in total RNA extracts of field-collected sweet cherry tissues. LChV-1 and LChV-2 were detected both alone and in combination in five sweet cherry orchards in Washington State. Sequence analysis of a 240-nucleotide (nt) fragment of the replicase open reading frame (ORF) lb and a 232-nt fragment from a portion of ORF8 and the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of LChV-1 indicated that North American (NA) isolates shared 90 to 99% nucleotide identity in both genome segments analyzed. In contrast, comparisons of NA isolates to two Eurasian isolates of LChV-1 indicated shared nucleotide identities of 79 to 82% in the replicase fragment and 89 to 90% in the ORF8/3′UTR fragment. Sequence variation in the replicase region did not affect detection of LChV-1 in 12 isolates using the replicase-specific primers reported here. This article represents the first report of LChV-1 and LChV-2 in sweet cherry in Washington. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys were carried out to determine presence and incidence of Apricot latent virus (ApLV) and Plum bark necrosis stem pitting-associated virus (PBNSPaV) in the main stone fruit growing areas of Eastern Anatolia. RT-PCR and nested-RT-PCR techniques were used to detect ApLV and PBNSPaV, respectively. Three apricot samples out of 224 tested positive for ApLV, although infected trees showed no apparent disease symptoms. Of 45 sweet cherry and plum trees tested for PBNSPaV, 35 tested positive. Stem pitting symptoms were observed on the trunks of PBNSPaV-infected sweet cherries. Trunk bark was spongy and thick; pits and grooves were observed on the woody cylinder. The overall incidence of ApLV was 1.3% and of PBNSPaV was 77%. This is the first report of ApLV and PBNSPaV in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the effects of wounding, fruit age and wetness duration on the development of cherry brown rot. Both Monilinia laxa and M. fructigena infected wounded detached cherry fruits, but M. laxa caused more infections than M. fructigena and only M. laxa efficiently infected intact detached fruits. Results from field monitoring and controlled inoculation in a polyethylene tunnel showed that the susceptibility of fruits to infection by M. laxa increased with fruit maturity. Infection of attached intact fruits by M. laxa was not affected by the length (3–24 h) of the wet period tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of spinosad, spinosad bait, and the chloronicotinyl insecticides imidacloprid and thiacloprid on mortality of the adults and larvae of western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae),were determined in the laboratory and the field. Spinosad and spinosad bait caused higher adult mortality than imidacloprid, which caused higher mortality than thiacloprid. Only spinosad bait prevented oviposition. All materials were more toxic to adults when ingested than when topically applied. Spinosad bait had the greatest residual toxicity on leaves, killing 100% of adults when aged for 14 d in the field. When materials were sprayed on infested cherries, numbers of live larvae in fruit after 8 d were lower in imidacloprid and thiacloprid than in spinosad and spinosad bait treatments, which did not differ from the control, but all materials reduced larval emergence over 30 d. In the field, spinosad and spinosad bait were as effective in suppressing larval infestations as azinphos-methyl and carbaryl, whereas imidacloprid was effective in most cases and thiacloprid was generally less effective than azinphos-methyl and carbaryl. Overall, results in the laboratory and field show that spinosad and chloronicotinyl insecticides differed significantly in their effectiveness against adults and larvae of H. indifferens but that spinosad, spinosad bait, and imidacloprid seem to be acceptable substitutes for organophosphate and carbamate insecticides for controlling this fruit fly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive use of site-specific fungicides in agricultural production provides a potent selective mechanism for increasing the frequency of fungicide-resistant isolates in pathogen populations. Practical resistance occurs when the frequency and levels of resistance are great enough to limit the effectiveness of disease control in the field. Cherry leaf spot (CLS), caused by the fungus BIumeriella jaapii, is a major disease of cherry trees in the Great Lakes region. The site-specific sterol demethylation inhibitor fungicides (DMIs) have been used extensively in the region. In 2002, CLS control failed in a Michigan orchard that had used the DMI fenbuconazole exclusively for 8 years. That control failure and our observations from around the state suggested that practical resistance had developed in B. jaapii. Field trial data covering 1989 to 2005 for the DMIs fenbuconazole and tebuconazole supported observations of reduced efficacy of DMIs for controlling CLS. To verify the occurrence of fungicide-resistant B. jaapii, monoconidial isolates were collected in two surveys and tested using a fungicide-amended medium. In one survey, 137 isolates from sites with different DMI historics (no known history, mixed or alternated with other fungicides, and exclusive use) were tested against 12 concentrations of fenbuconazole, tebuconazole, myclobutanil, and fenarimol. Isolates from sites with no prior DMI use were DMI sensitive (DMIS = no colony growth at 0.2 µg/mI a.i.) whereas the isolates from the site with prior exclusive use showed growth at DMI concentrations 3 to >100 times higher, and were rated as DMI resistant (DMIR). A second survey examined 1,530 monoconidial isolates, including 1,143 from 62 orchard Sites in Michigan, where DMIs had been used to control CLS. Resistance to fenbuconazole was detected in 99.7% of the orchard isolates. All isolates from wild cherry trees were sensitive and isolates from feral and dooryard trees showed a range of sensitivities. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection method for identifying B. jaapii and DMIR was developed and tested. The species-specific primer pair (Bj-F and Bj-R) based on introns in the CYP51 gene of B. jaapii, and the DMIR-specific primer pair (DMI-R-Bj-F and DMI-R-Bj-R) based on an insert found upstream of CYP51 in all DMIR isolates, provided an accurate and rapid method for detecting DMIR B. jaapii. The PCR-based identification method will facilitate timely decision making and continued monitoring of DMIR subpopulations in response to management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aggregation theory, aggregation of eggs is one of important conditions for the coexistence of species. However, aggregation of eggs by clutch laying does not always promote coexistence, whereas aggregation of eggs by aggregated distributions of ovipositing females always has a significant contribution to the coexistence. In this study, spatial distributions of three Drosophila species across naturally occurring cherry fruits were studied with relation to their clutch sizes. Drosophila suzukii oviposited eggs mainly on fresh fruits on trees, and its eggs were randomly distributed across cherry fruits. The emergence data also indicated random spatial distributions of this species. Random egg distributions of this species are explained by random visits of females to fruits and the production of clutches of mostly single eggs. On the other hand, D. lutescens and D. rufa oviposited on fallen fruits, showed aggregated distributions in the emergence data, and frequently produced clutches of a few eggs. In these species, the degree of aggregation was usually significantly lower than the expectation based on random visits of females to fruits and their clutch sizes observed in the present experiments, indicating that their aggregation is unlikely to arise from aggregated distributions of ovipositing females. Thus, the spatial aggregation of these species does not necessarily lead to their coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several abstracts of the articles related to plant pathology are presented, including "Wilt and Collapse of Cuphea ignea Caused by Phytophthora tropicalis in Italy," "Tissue Necrosis of Sour Cherry Fruits: An Unusual Disease Occurrence Caused by a Phoma sp. in Serbia," "First Report of Alternaria Leaf Spot on Cherry Trees in Greece," "New Outbreaks of Bacterial Wilt of Dry Bean in Nebraska Observed From Field Infections," and "Occurrence of Citrus Leprosis Virus in Llanos, Colombia."

Demand for organically grown fruit, including sour cherry, is rising in Europe and the United States, but the limited tools for disease management have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, management of brown rot blossom blight, caused by Monilinia laxa, was examined for organic sour cherry production in Hungary. Combinations of sanitation practices and fungicide treatments, including copper hydroxide, lime sulfur, and micronized and nonmicronized wettable sulfur, were investigated in 2 years and two cultivars. The effect of fungicide treatments on yield and phytotoxicity on spur-leaf clusters was also determined. Among fungicide treatments suitable for organic production, copper hydroxide and lime sulfur alone or in combination with micronized wettable sulfur were most effective for blossom blight control when applied twice (at closed blossom and full bloom) or three times (at closed blossom, full bloom, and petal fall) during bloom. Both treatments were not as effective as the conventional standard and caused more damage on spur-leaf clusters during wet weather conditions, but significantly increased crop yield compared with the untreated control or wettable sulfur treatments. Micronized and nonmicronized sulfur applied up to three times during bloom were equally effective, did not impact yield, were not phytotoxic, and reduced blossom blight compared with the untreated control. Sanitation (the removal of blighted twigs and mummified fruit) reduced blossom blight in both cultivars compared with nonsanitized plots when disease pressure was high. The need for an integrated approach to effectively manage blossom blight in organic sour cherry production is discussed. This is the first in-depth characterization of cultural and chemical brown rot blossom blight control options for organic sour cherry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trapping studies were conducted to determine whether feral blueberry maggot flies, Rhagoletis mendax Curran, and Eastern cherry fruit flies, R. cingulata (Loew), respond to natal host-fruit volatiles. Subsequent experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential of using simple and inexpensive fruit juice concentrate lures to monitor these key pests of blueberries and cherries, respectively. The presence of ripe blueberries and ripe tart cherries in enclosures that permitted escape of fruit volatiles significantly increased captures of R. mendax and R. cingulata, respectively, on adjacent sticky traps compared with traps without adjacent fruit. R. mendax were not affected by addition of blueberry concentrate to Pherocon AM traps with or without ammonium acetate. Pherocon AM boards prebaited with ammonium acetate directly incorporated into the sticky Tangle-Foot coating were equally effective as unbaited Pherocon AM boards deployed with separate ammonium acetate dispensers for monitoring It. mendax. A cherry juice concentrate increased captures of R. cingulata on unbaited Pherocon AM but not Rebell traps. In addition, combining cherry juice concentrate and ammonium acetate on Pherocon AM traps increased captures of R. cingulata compared with captures on traps with either stimulus alone. Adding ammonium acetate lures to Rebell traps more than doubled captures of R. cingulata over that on unbaited Rebell traps. Our results show that feral R. mendax and R. cingulata flies are attracted to the volatiles emitted from their host fruit and that this may be exploited to improve monitoring of these important fruit pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LC5 isolate of Little cherry virus (LChV-LC5) is one of at least two distinct viruses contributing to a severe disease of cherry (Little cherry disease [LChD]) in British Columbia. A near-complete nucleotide sequence of LChV-LC5 is available as well as polyclonal antibodies against LChV-LC5 coat protein produced in bacterial cells. A survey for LChV-LC5—infected trees in the Okanagan Valley and Kootenay region of British Columbia was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and LChV-LC5 antibodies. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequence analysis of four different regions of the genomes of 31 of these isolates have been conducted. A high level of sequence variability was found: nucleotide sequence divergence between LChV-LC5 and the other sequenced isolates ranged from 0 to 19.7%, and amino acid sequence divergence ranged from 0 to 9.1%. Further examination of RT-PCR and sequence data identified six discrete groups of isolates, including a group identical to LChV-LC5. The high level of divergence in LChV-LC5 isolates occurring in British Columbia suggests that caution should be used in the selection of methods used for diagnosis during surveys for this virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of calcium (Ca) and fungicides on fungal pathogens of sweet cherries, cvs. "Bing" and "0900 Ziraat", in Normal Atmosphere (NA) and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) was investigated. The most effective treatment was MAP+iprodione. The MAP+iprodione treatments reduced the percentage of rotted fruit in cv. "Bing" from 23.40 to 7.74% and from 11.89 to 5.75% at the end of the trials in 1998 and 1999, respectively, and in cv. "0900 Ziraat" from 20.14 to 12.90% and from 23.62 to 5.50% in 1998 and 1999, respectively. It was concluded that sweet cherry cvs. "Bing" and "0900 Ziraat" could be stored under MAP conditions for 32 days and 62 days, respectively. The fungi most frequently isolated from sweet cherry cvs. "Bing" and "0900 Ziraat" were Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, Monilinia fructicola, Alternaria alternata and Rhizopus stolonifer. The efficiency of Ca, captan and iprodione on these fungi were investigated under in vitro and in vivo conditions, and iprodione was found to be the most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing availability of nucleotide sequence data from plant pathogenic fruit tree viruses led recently to the development of nucleic-acid-based detection methods as a routine tool for diagnosis. We present a simplification and modification of the previously described test procedure for the two closteroviruses Little cherry virus 1 and 2 (LChV-1, LChV-2). For LChV-1, a single tube reaction reduced unspecific amplification that led to false positive results. For the detection of LChV-2, a primer set was developed for the local isolates of the area ‘Altes Land’ in the northern part of Germany. To determine the optimal sampling conditions for a reliable detection of both viruses different types of tissue (bark, bud, leaves) were tested in monthly intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. Analysis of the P1C124 source (associated with the cherry necrotic mottle leaf (CNML) disease) revealed the presence of two different viral agents. The complete nucleotide sequence of one of these agents, P1A, had an overall nucleotide sequence similarity of 83% with a previously sequenced North American isolate of Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) and should therefore be regarded as an European isolate of CGRMV. Approximately 2 kb of the 5′ end of the genome of the second agent, P1B, were also sequenced and were shown to be 82% homologous with Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV), another member of the Foveavirus genus. The possible involvement of CGRMV-P1A and of CNRMV-P1B in the etiology of the CNML disease is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew), and black cherry fruit fly, R. fausta (Osten Sacken), are the most important insect pests of cherries Prunus spp. in the eastern and midwestern United States. In 1998, we studied the responses of cherry fruit fly species using the recommended V-shaped Pherocon AM board. Significantly more R. cingulata flies were caught on boards with aqueous solutions of ammonium baits compared with boards that had solid ammonium baits mixed into the Tangle-Trap. Captures of R. fausta flies were low in 1998 and the weekly trapping data never exceeded a total of five adults. In 1999, several commercial traps were evaluated including the unbaited, three-dimensional Rebell trap and different types of ammonium baited spheres and boards including a 9-cm-diameter red sphere, a modified version of the Ladd trap (L & S trap), and the Pherocon AM yellow board in the vertical and V-shaped orientations. There were significantly more R. fausta flies caught on unbaited Rebell traps compared with any other commercial traps studied. Red sphere treatments (regardless of baiting system) consistently captured significantly fewer R. fausta flies than any other treatment evaluated. For R. cingulata, total captures on unbaited Rebell traps were not significantly different from other commercial traps including the 9-cm-diameter red spheres baited with ammonium acetate mixed into the Tangle-Trap, L & S traps, and the baited Pherocon AM yellow boards deployed in a vertical orientation. The study demonstrated that the unbaited Rebell trap was the most effective and selective device evaluated for monitoring R. fausta and R. cingulata flies. In addition, red sphere (9-cm-diameter) traps were found ineffective for use in R. fausta monitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The investigations were made in the experimental sour cherry orchard from the Institute of Agriculture, Kyustendil, Bulgaria, during the period 2010-2014, in order to compare conventional and integrated sour cherry protection against cherry leaf spot and cherry fruit fly. Two variants were investigated, with two different treatment approaches for the control of cherry leaf spot and cherry fruit fly. Variant 1 -cherry leaf spot was controlled by protective treatments with dodin and tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin and cherry fruit fly was controlled by treatments with deltametrin and thiacloprid, independently of density. Variant 2 - cherry leaf spot was controlled by post-infection (curative) treatments with tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin and cherry fruit fly was controlled by treatments based on biological threshold: 10-11 cherry fruit fly females caught in traps up to the moment for chemical treatment. It was established that Blumeriella japii can be successfully controlled by post-infection treatments and by this the number of insecticide treatments was reduced. The treatments against cherry fruit fly can be avoided or reduced when the attack control is based on the biological threshold established in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Polish climatic conditions cherry cankers resulting from infection Pseudomonas morsprunorum continue development in summer, but the rate may be slower than in the period from April to June. However, from the well-established, active canker developing under the dwarf shoot of the susceptible variety 'Hedelfińska' in July no P. morsprunorum were isolated. On the other hand, numerous strains of the genus Erwinia were found there which caused a hyper-sensitivity reaction (HR) on tobacco leaves. From the cracks on the current-year cherry shoots, due to fresh infection and from symptomless leaves P. morsprunorum strains were isolated, always accompanied by those of the Erwinia genus in the approximate proportion 1:1 or 1:2. The strains of Erwinia genus seemed similar to the DC and YC strains isolated by Billings and Baker from pear and apple trees infected by fireblight and also to the strains in group III of the bacteria isolated by Crosse from cherry leaves. In two tests (immediately after isolation and after 4 months of storage) the strains of the Erwinia genus and 3 nonidentified isolates induced HR. At a third test, after 10 months or preservation these strains were HR-negative in contrast to the P. morsprunorum isolates. The fact that strains of the Erwinia genus inducing HR were isolated in large numbers from active cherry canker where pathogenic bacteria were not detected, may indicate that they play some role in the development of cherry tree canker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field susceptibility to bacterial canker was monitored in sour cherry varieties. The varieties 'Fanal' (synonyms 'Heimanns KonservenweichseF, Heimanns 23) 'Nefris' and 'Rexelle' were evaluated as highly susceptible following natural infection. 'Stevnsbar', which is the main variety in Denmark, 'Schattenmorelle' and 'Kelleriis 16' (synonym: 'Morellenfeuer') were not attacked. Monthly inoculations in the field revealed that cankers arose on branches from inoculations in September to March, the largest cankers resulted from inoculations in November and December, when the trees were dormant. Leaf scar infection declined with increasing time between removal of the leaf petiole and inoculation. As an alternative to field evaluation susceptibility in detached branches and seedlings to an inoculation was assessed. However, field performance over many years appears to be the only true assessment of disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe rasp-leaf symptoms were observed on a cherry tree in an orchard in northwestern Greece. A virus, given the proposed name Epirus Cherry Virus (EpCV), was mechanically isolated, which on the basis of biological, morphological and serological properties, appeared different from all known viruses associated with or causing rasp-leaf symptoms on cherry. The virus has at least three types of particles sedimenting as three components in a sucrose density gradient. No serological relations were found with other similar viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peronospora sparsa Berkeley was identified on cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) which was being propagated in four nurseries across England and Wales in 1987. This is the first record of a downy mildew on Prunus laurocerasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually selected traits or characteristics are often found to cause a non-random distribution of male mating success. Understanding which traits or characteristics affect the mating success of insect pests is important for pest management strategies that are designed to interfere with normal reproduction. The European cherry fruit fly ( Rhagoletis cerasi L., Tephritidae) is a serious pest of sweet-cherries in Europe. Little is known about the mating behaviour and individual differences in mating success in the species. In this study R. cerasi males were found to have a non-random distribution of mating success. However, size of males did not affect male mating success, nor was there any difference in size between mated and unmated females in this study. The importance of characteristics other than size for male mating success and the importance of female choice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering cherry ( Prunus serrulata) trees showing symptoms of excessive axillary growth, stunting, short internodes and decline were observed in Yantai City, Shandong province, China. The samples with the flowering cherry decline were designated as Fc D- YT phytoplasma. Sequencing results, restriction fragment length polymorphism ( RFLP) and phylogenetic analysis of sequences from the 1248-bp R16 F2n⁄ R16 R2 products and partial ribosomal protein operon genes revealed the Fc D- YT phytoplasma as a member of subgroup 16 Sr V- B, rp V- C. Two RFLP patterns were observed in recombinant colonies from the cloned 16 S r DNA gene with endonucleases Hpa II and Mse I. To our knowledge, this is the first report of 16 Sr V group phytoplasma declining flowering cherry trees in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the results of a survey of ornamental cherries conducted in 1965 to assess more accurately the incidence of little cherry virus in commercial stocks in England. Budwood from 20 varieties of scion mother trees of ornamental Prunus was obtained from 17 commercial propagating nurseries in England and were tested for the presence of little cherry virus by budding on to the indicator rootstock Mazzard F12/1. The virus was detected in 37 of a total of 60 tests and in 15 of a total of 20 varieties. All infected varieties were symptomless carriers. Some varieties were totally infected while others which have been in Great Britain for up to 100 years were apparently healthy. This raises the possibilities of varietal resistance to infection or the absence of efficient vectors.

This article presents a study from the Fens, England, about the biology and control of cherry-bark tortrix moth. The insect is a locally serious pest in the old-established apple orchards in the Wisbech district. It has a prolonged period of activity in summer, and treatment against the eggs or adults is not practicable. The larvae tunnel in the bark, and can cause, directly or indirectly, the premature death of large branches and sometimes whole trees. The researchers have found that the infestation could be controlled by liberal applications of creosote or tar oil to affected areas of the trees during the dormant period, and by high volume sprays of trichlorphon as the larvae were coming to the surface of the bark to pupate. However, spraying treatments were generally less effective than creosote brushed onto the affected areas, and may have to be repeated for several years to obtain a satisfactory control.

This article investigates the spread of the necrotic rusty mottle virus disease among sweet cherry plants in Great Britain. Because of confusion with the effects of necrotic ring spot virus and Pseudomonas mors-prunorum, necrotic rusty mottle disease has long been overlooked, except in the form described as Frogmore virus canker, in English sweet cherry orchards. From transmission tests using the Lambert variety, it is now clear that the virus disease is widespread and responsible for the low productivity of certain varieties, particularly Frogmore, Florence and Noble, in some orchards. The variety known as Tradescant's Heart may be an uninfected clone of Noble. The virus spreads naturally, but the rate of spread is uncertain because some varieties become infected without producing recognizable symptoms.

This article deals with a study on a canker disease of sweet cherry trees discovered in an orchard in the West Midlands, England. These trees, all of the variety Frogmore, had rough, fissured bark and their branches appear to be knotted at most of the nodes. The distribution of the disease in the orchard suggested that it was not bacterial canker, because varieties more susceptible than Frogmore to bacterial infection were unaffected. The first recorded bark symptoms on Frogmore trees was during the autumn of 1956, when there were well developed cankers on the node of 2-year and older wood.

This article presents a brief account of trials involving the control with streptomycin of bacterial canker of cherry from 1954 to 1956 at East Malling Research Station. All canker infections recorded in these experiments occurred on branches. Over 99 percent of these were associated with fruiting spurs or with the nodes on the one-year-old wood, and were the result of autumn infection through leaf scars in the autumn. Streptomycin was highly effective against the leaf spot phase of the disease and appears to be superior to Bordeaux mixture for this purpose. The streptomycin was applied during the blossom period, whereas the use of Bordeaux mixture has hitherto been restricted to the immediate pre-blossom and post-blossom stages because of spray damage.

The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the most destructive pest in cherry and sweet cherry orchards. Because of the low tolerance for damaged fruit on the market and the restrictions from E.U regarding insecticides, new envioramental safe methods begin to be developed. This paper prezents preliminary research in monitoring and control of Rhagoletis cerasi L. with 5 diffent formulations of specific pheromon (pheromon prodeced by ICC Raluca Ripan Cluj-Napoca) 4 of them, have not been tested yet. Adult flight was monitored twice a week on 22 yellow colored traps, 17 with certified pheromone and 27 with the 4 new synthesized formulations. Traps were placed in two orchards: one in which chemical treatments have been performed and another plantation where no chemical treatments were applied. In the orchard where they applied chemical treatments, the average catch on colored traps was 28.31 adults/trap and in baited pheromone traps the average fluctuated between 11 adults/ trap in V3 and 28,6 adults per trap in V2. In the untreated orchard, the average number of catches on colored panels was 23.33 and in the variants with pheromone baits, this parameter was between 8.5 adults/trap in V5 and 44 adults/trap in V2.Rhagoletis cerasi level of population differ from a plantation to another and that is not strictly related to applied technology culture. Yellow panels shows good functionality in capturing adults. Between the pheromone baited traps that are in the first stage of testing, higher number of captures than yellow panel variants, showed the variant V2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms suggestive of phytoplasma diseases were observed in infected sweet cherry trees growing in the central regions of Iran. Phytoplasmas were detected in symptomatic trees by the nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) using phytoplasma universal primer pairs (P1/Tint, PA2F/R, R16F2/R2 and NPA2F/R). Restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of 485 bp DNA fragments amplified in nested PCR revealed that different phytoplamas were associated with infected trees. Sequence analyses of phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S intergenic spacer region indicated that the phytoplasmas related to ‘ Ca. Phytoplasma asteris ’ and peanut WB group infect sweet cherry trees in these regions. This is the first report of the presence of phytoplasmas related to ‘ Ca. Phytoplasma asteris’ and peanut WB group in sweet cherry trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After three injections of 1 ml of 0.01% DHT solutions under the cortex of the stems of 100% artificially or naturally with prunus necrotic ringspot virus infected sweet and sour cherry plants of 4 varieties axillary buds were grafted onto the indicator plant Shirofugen. 99% of these buds proved virus free. Contrary to this, only 28 to 32% of the buds from solvent injected control plants proved free of viruses. About 65% of the fruit-trees grown up from buds of DHT-treated plants were still virus free, when the test procedures were performed again two years later. Treatments of the sour cherry variety Podbelskaja with DHT were by far less effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations in cherry and plum orchards in England confirm that, as on the continent of Europe, Argyresthia pruniella (Clerck) and not A. curvella (L.) is associated with these crops. The pest status of A. curvella on cherry, therefore, should no longer apply and in its place A. pruniella should be designated the cherry fruit moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]