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Almond leaf scorch (ALS) disease has been present in California's almond-growing regions for over 60 years. This disease is caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa and the pathogen is vectored by xylem-feeding sharpshooters and spittlebugs. Currently, there are no effective management techniques that prevent trees from becoming infected. Within affected orchards throughout California's Central Valley, disease incidence and the risk of tree-to-tree spread appears to be low. Consequently, the decision to remove or keep infected trees depends on lost productivity. We compared yield and vitality between infected and uninfected almond for cvs. Sonora and Nonpareil. Sonora was examined at three sites over 3 years and Nonpareil was examined at one site over 2 years. Yields of ALS-affected trees were significantly lower for both cultivars, although yield losses of Sonora were proportionally greater than those of Nonpareil. Yields of infected trees did not decline incrementally over years; rather, they fluctuated similarly to those of uninfected trees. In addition, no infected trees died during the course of the study. These results are in direct contrast to previous anecdotal reports which suggest that yields of infected trees incrementally decline and infected trees eventually die. A simple economic model was developed to determine conditions under which rouging infected trees would increase returns. Based on the model, orchard age, yield loss due to infection, and the value of a maximally producing almond tree should be considered when deciding to remove ALS-affected trees.

Xylella fastidiosa is the causal agent of almond leaf scorch disease (ALSD), which is currently reemerging in California as a potential threat to almond (Prunus dulcis) production. We previously reported the presence of different colony morphotypes of X. fastidiosa ALSD strains on periwinkle wilt medium solidified with Gelrite and their association with genotypes or pathotypes after a low number of serial transfers. The morphotypes could be differentiated by single nucleotide polymorphisms and were classified as A- and G-genotypes. The stability of colony morphology was not studied. Yet, it is an important issue in the bacterial characterization. In this project, we evaluated the variations of colony morphology through 14 subculture passages. The G-genotype strains were consistently (>99%) associated with smooth colony morphotypes. Similarly, A-genotype strains were consistently associated with rough colony morphotypes. Rough A-genotype strains reversed to smooth colony variants at a low frequency suggest...

Author(s): Pickel, Carolyn; Bentley, Walter J; Connell, Joseph H; Duncan, Roger; Viveros, Mario | Abstract: This handy publication is a decision guide packed with information to help almond growers make environmentally responsible pest management decisions year-round without decreasing their yields or increasing their reject levels. Based on research and results from the University of California and the Almond Pest Management Alliance. (PDF facsimile of former publication 21619, ©2004)

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited bacterium that causes almond leaf scorch (ALS), Pierce's disease of grapevines, and other plant diseases. We surveyed ground vegetation in ALS-infected almond orchards in California's Central Valley for the presence of this bacterium. Plant tissue samples were collected throughout a 2-year period and processed for the presence of X. fastidiosa using restriction enzyme digestion of RST31 and RST33 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products and bacterial culture on selective media. Overall disease incidence was low in the ground vegetation species; only 63 of 1,369 samples tested positive. Of the 38 species of common ground vegetation tested, 11 tested positive for X. fastidiosa, including such common species as shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), filaree (Erodium spp.), cheeseweed (Malva parvifolia), burclover (Medicago polymorpha), annual bluegrass (Poa annua) London rocket (Sisymbrium irio), and chickweed (Stellaria media). There was a seasonal component to bacterial presence, with positive samples found only between November and March. Both ground vegetation and almond trees were most commonly infected with the almond strain of X. fastidiosa (six of seven surveyed sites). ALS-infected almond samples had an X. fastidiosa concentration within previously reported ranges (1.84 × 106to 2.15 × 107CFU/g); however, we were unable to accurately measure X. fastidiosa titer in sampled ground vegetation for comparison. These results are discussed with respect to ground vegetation management for ALS control.

The impacts of three different water stress-timing patterns for three levels of seasonal applied water on production were evaluated in mature almond trees [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) Webb cv. Nonpareil] grown under high-evaporative demand conditions in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California. The stress timing patterns involved biasing water deficits to the pre-harvest or post-harvest periods in addition to uniform deficit irrigation for the entire season, referred to as A–C patterns. The three levels of water availability were 55, 70, and 85% of potential seasonal evapotranspiration (ETc) equivalent to 580, 720, and 860 mm of applied water per season, respectively. Treatments were imposed over four seasons. Predawn leaf water potential was used as the stress indicator and approached −4.0 MPa with the A pattern at the lowest applied water level and −3.5 MPa with the B pattern at the same irrigation level. For every level of applied water, kernel weight at harvest was significantly reduced in the A pattern relative to the B and C patterns. At harvest, the most severe reduction in kernel dry weight relative to the control (17%) occurred in 580A, while there were 11% reductions in 580B and 580C. At the 860 mm level, only the A pattern dry kernel weight was less than the control. Moreover, the A patterns for all irrigation levels had lower kernel percentages than for the B and C patterns, indicating the greater sensitivity of kernel growth relative to shell growth in the regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) scenarios that biased the stress toward pre-harvest. The B stress patterns had a strong negative impact on fruit load relative to the A patterns at the 580 and 720 mm levels of applied water. No differences in crop load relative to the control were observed among the A and C regimes for all three levels of applied water. Nut load tended to increase during the experiment with 580A and 720A while it decreased with time with the B patterns for the same irrigation levels. We believe that the lower fruit loads involve stress during flower bud differentiation, which occurs mid-August–September in this cultivar and location, quite late in the season relative to other fruit and nut crops. The most successful stress timing pattern in terms of yield (the integrator of fruit size and load) was C, which avoided the large swings in tree stress observed with A and B. The onset of hull splitting was delayed by the severe pre-harvest stress in 580A while being accelerated by the milder stress of 720A. Spider mite levels were unaffected by the RDI. Canopy size was reduced with the A patterns at all irrigation levels. This occurred without any concomitant reduction in fruit load, resulting in higher fruiting densities (305 and 283 nuts/m2 of orchard floor shaded area in 580A and 720A, respectively, vs. 214 nuts/m2 in the control). Coupling the higher fruiting densities and smaller canopy sizes with higher tree planting densities offers growers the possibility of increasing yields while consuming less water. Maintaining more compact canopies with RDI rather than pruning would also lessen the amount of wood requiring disposal, thereby moderating air quality degradation resulting from burning. It must be emphasized that the scenario we outline—increasing kernel yields while using less water due to stress-related higher fruiting densities—requires that the smaller canopies be maintained by RDI, not pruning.

Groves, R. L., Chen, J., Civerolo, E. L., Freeman, M. W., and Viveros, M. A. 2005. Spatial analysis of almond leaf scorch disease in the San Joaquin Valley of California: Factors affecting pathogen distribution and spread. Plant Dis. 89:581-589. Almond leaf scorch (ALS) disease has emerged as a serious threat to almond (Prunus amygdalus) production areas throughout California’s San Joaquin Valley. This disease is caused by the xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, and this pathogen is transmitted by xylophagous insects including sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae). Among four orchards surveyed, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and bacterial isolation followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were equally effective in detecting X. fastidiosa from ALS-symptomatic trees. Disease incidence varied among almond cultivars in each orchard, with the highest mean incidence and most severe symptoms frequently encountered in ‘Sonora’. X. fastidiosa isolates consisted of mixtures of grape or “G-genotype” and almond or “A-genotype” strains present in surveyed orchards. The X. fastidiosa G-genotypes characterized from each orchard were associated with the most severely affected ‘Sonora’ trees in three of the four orchards. Both ordinary runs and simple randomization analyses revealed aggregations of ALS in three of the four orchards. Clusters of ALSaffected trees frequently occurred in the outermost orchard rows. Plots of semivariance in ALS incidence over distance varied in shape and magnitude among cultivars. Semivariance increased over distance in ‘Sonora’ and ‘Carmel’, indicating spatial dependence or aggregations of incidence best fit by a combination of spherical and linear models. These results document both random and aggregate patterns of ALS spatial distribution in selected orchards and further illustrate how cultivar susceptibility influences the distribution patterns of ALS incidence. Following the recent introduction and establishment of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata, the impact upon the epidemiology and spread of ALS is unknown. Additional keywords: Pierce’s disease

The spatial and temporal pattern of noninfectious bud failure (BF) expression (BFexp) was studied during seven growing seasons in a population of 'Carmelʼ almond trees originating from twelve commercial propagation sources. All progeny trees were grown in a single experimental site with high prevailing summer temperatures. BFexp increased continuously but irregularly in each nursery population as measured as the proportion of trees showing BF and as an average BFexp rating. Populations from the 12 nurseries represented increasing clonal generations from the original seedling tree and showed increasing levels of BF, as well as a decreasing shape value and increasing scale value derived by a failure statistics model. Models for development, distribution and hazard functions were defi ned for each of the 12 sources studied. Only sources from the original tree and source A demonstrated potential for com- mercial use. A signifi cant correlation was found between average yearly increase in BFexp and the average daytime temperature for the previous June. The June period coincides with a specifi c stage in the seasonal growth cycle when vegetative buds mature. Noninfectious bud failure (BF) is a genetic disorder of almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb.) (IPM Education and Publica- tion, 2002; Kester, 1974; Kester and Gradziel, 1996). The disorder is identifi ed in individual orchard trees of certain cultivars by failure of vegetative buds to grow in the spring (BF), die-back of terminal shoots (dieback), vigorous and erratic growth from surviving buds (witches-broom) and characteristic bark deforma- tions (roughbark). Flowering and fruiting are not directly affected but bloom can be delayed and fl owering density reduced, and so crop production can be reduced. There is no evidence of a pathological cause (DiTerlizzi et al., 1998; Wilson and Schein, 1956; Fenton et al., 1988a) although some viruses mimic the symptoms of BF (Kester. 1974; Wilson and Schein, 1956). BF is equally inherited in almond x almond reciprocal crosses and is directly proportional to the BF severity in the parents (Kester, 1968a, 1968b; Kester and Jones, 1970). Individual seedlings inherit different levels of the potential for BF (BF pot ) which is manifested in the number of cycles of fu- ture growth required for symptoms to be expressed. Individual seedlings pass through a period of conversion in which the BF pot changes to expression (BF exp ). The pattern is retained during vegetative propagation and is continued during further vegeta- tive generations. BF is also inherited in almond x peach F 1 , F 2 and backcross progeny where BF exp segregation indicates that a major gene for BF occurs in almond which is absent in peach (Kester 1978; Kester and Gradziel, 2002). BF exp fi rst appeared sporadically in 'Nonpareilʼ and 'Peerlessʼ in the early years of the industry and later at a devastating rate in 'Jordanoloʼ and 'Harpareilʼ, both products of a USDA-UC breeding program (Woods, 1938). Later, BF exp has appeared in high numbers in patented cultivars such as 'Mercedʼ, 'Priceʼ

Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb (syn. Prunus amygdalus Batsch, Amygdalus communis L.)] flower bud development for three cultivars (Nonpareil, Carmel, and Butte) from four California locations (which span the range of almond production in California) for 2 years, and for `Nonpareil' in a single location for a third year. The objectives were to document timing of floral developmental events and to better understand the extent of variation that exists within and among cultivars, locations, and years. Results indicated that the time of floral initiation relative to hull split varied among cultivars. Median time for floral initiation in `Nonpareil' was more than 3 weeks after the onset of hull split. For `Butte' and `Carmel', median time of floral initiation preceded the onset of hull split. Extensive variation in the timing of bud development events within a cultivar was apparent. Timing of developmental events varied among locations, but no patterns emerged consistent with the north to south range which spanned 4°15' latitude and 520 km. Among years, development occurred earliest in 1997, a relatively warm year, and was delayed in 1998 and 1999, relatively cool years. Results indicate an earlier onset of floral initiation than reported in the classical literature on the subject.

Almond trees were irrigated from March through November 1994 and 1995 with 70, 85, and 100% of potential evapotranspiration (ETc). Deficit irrigation was accomplished by delivering 70 or 85% of ETc at every irrigation (sustained) or 50% of ETc during 1 June to 31 July (70 regulated) or 1 to 15 July (85 regulated). The natural incidence of dead leaf clusters and dead spurs, twigs, and small branches, measured at harvest, lessened with decreasing amounts of water, and regulated deficits were more effective than sustained deficits in reducing disease. Fruit at early dehiscence on trees in each of the five irrigation treatments were inoculated with 0.1 ml of suspensions of 104 spores per ml of Monilinia fructicola or Rhizopus stolonifer. Monilinia fructicola caused more hull rot than R. stolonifer, and both pathogens responded similarly to the irrigation treatments. The rate of fruit maturation was monitored for approximately 4 weeks before harvest by scoring the percent abscission and dehiscence and measuring the hull moisture content of fruit on trees in each irrigation treatment. Dry kernel weight was determined at harvest. Maturation was slower and kernel weight greater in treatments receiving 85% of ETc than 70% or those under sustained compared with regulated irrigation regimes.

Plant water relations, tree growth, and yield components of mature almond trees [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) Webb cv. Nonpareil] were evaluated in response to ranges of irrigation cutoff durations immediately prior to harvest and to postharvest water deprivation. The preharvest cutoff regimes consisted of eight treatments that terminated irrigation from 8 to 57 days prior to tree shaking, resulting in 297 mm less preharvest-applied water for the longest cutoff regime. Postharvest irrigation totaled 206 mm. Predawn leaf water potential (LWP) declined rapidly after irrigation cutoff and reached −4.0 MPa prior to harvest in the most severe preharvest treatment. This resulted in reduced tree growth and near complete canopy defoliation. Individual kernel weight and full hull splitting were reduced by up to 17.2% and 71.1%, respectively, by the preharvest cutoff regimes, while bark damage due to mechanical shaking and fruit removal was unaffected. Hull rot at harvest was virtually eliminated with the longer preharvest cutoff durations. Depriving trees of postharvest irrigation had a greater impact on tree productivity than the preharvest irrigation cutoffs, even though the amount of postharvest-deprived water was less than that which occurred with the more severe preharvest cutoffs. In the season following postharvest water deprivation, bloom density and fruit set were reduced by up to 52.2% and 94.3%, respectively. This resulted in fruit load and kernel yield reductions of up to 76.7% and 73.6%, respectively. Even with the latest preharvest cutoff regime, fruit load and kernel yield were significantly lower without postharvest irrigation. We postulate that the sensitivity to postharvest water deficits is due to the late reproductive bud differentiation of almond, which may damage primordial flower parts and/or accelerate the emergence of the stamens during bloom, thus decreasing their pollen receptivity. Since postharvest water deficits are more damaging to sustained productivity than water deficits prior to harvest, growers with limited water supplies should bias irrigation towards the postharvest period.

Apple trees are commonly treated with antibiotics during bloom and early shoot growth to control fire-blight, but antibiotic resistance is a concern. To prevent antibiotic resistance, copper treatments may be beneficial, but would be feasible only if stages in bloom or fruit development could be identified that are not subject to fruit russetting. Most fruit russetting results from injury to epidermal cells early in fruit development. Studies in Kern and San Joaquin counties showed copper-induced russetting of apple fruit was unpredictable and sporadic regardless of application timing. Severity of damage varied from year to year.

Jeffries', a mutant of 'Nonpareil' almond ( Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb), showed "unilateral incompatibil- ity" in that its pollen failed to fertilize cultivars in the 'Carmel' (CIG-V), 'Monterey' (CIG-VI), and 'Sonora' (CIG-VII) pollen cross-incompatibility groups (CIGs), as well as specific cultivars ('Butte', 'Grace', and 'Valenta') whose CIG group is unknown. 'Jeffries' is not self-compatible, but produced good set when pollinated by 12 almond cultivars representing the entire range of CIGs involving 'Nonpareil' parentage, as well as the parent 'Nonpareil'. It was concluded that the 'Jeffries' mutant—both gametophyte and sporophyte—expressed a loss of a single S allele of the 'Nonpareil' genotype. Materials and Methods In 1984, flowers and percent nut set (number of nuts set/number of flowers pollinated) were counted on open-pollinated branches in 'Carmel'-'Jeffries' and 'Carmel'-'Fritz' combinations in the Wilson and Weins orchards in the southern San Joaquin valley of California, where the problem was occurring. Similar counts were made on comparable trees of 'Nonpareil' in a nearby (Anderson) orchard. Ten and eleven replications of ≈200 each blossoms were used.

Chen, J., Groves, R., Civerolo, E. L., Viveros, M., Freeman, M., and Zheng, Y. 2005. Two Xylella fastidiosa genotypes associated with almond leaf scorch disease on the same location in California. Phytopathology 95:708-714. Almond leaf scorch disease (ALSD) has recently reemerged in the San Joaquin Valley of California threatening almond production. ALSD is caused by Xylella fastidiosa, a nutritionally fastidious bacterium. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) of X. fastidiosa strains were identified to characterize the bacterial population in infected trees. Genotype-specific SNPs were used to design primers for multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays of early passage cultures. Two genotypically distinct types of X. fastidiosa strains, G-type and A-type, coexist simultaneously in the same infected almond orchard. This was substantiated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of a different genetic locus, RST31-RST33, which has previously been used to identify and differentiate X. fastidiosa strains. Furthermore, unique bacterial colony morphology was consistently associated with the A-type X. fastidiosa strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a mixed genotype infection of X. fastidiosa disease on the same location under natural environmental conditions. The concept of mixed genotype infection could affect the current epidemiological study based on the assumption that one genotype causes ALSD on one location and, therefore, the disease management strategy.

The distribution of the potential for noninfectious bud-failure (BFpot) was shown for the entire `Carmel' almond cultivar by propagating from single buds on single budsticks on individual trees of separate source blocks of commercial nurseries. Approximately 2700 progeny trees were grown at the same test site. The gradual increase in the expression of BF (Bfexp) in progeny trees from individual source trees shows a continuous range of latent BFpot among individual source trees directly correlated to five (or six) consecutive generations of vegetatively propagated source orchards. This pattern shows a continuous gradient in expression (vertical variation). A continuous gradient in expression also exists among progeny trees originating from the same source tree (horizontal variation). Individual source trees were identified whose progeny produced little or no BFexp when grown for 5 or more years in a high temperature test site. These studies confirm that noninfectious bud-failure (and probably other genetic disorders) represent persistent variants of a specific gene(s) whose genepot changes during vegetative growth sequences to bring about differential expression over time (“age”) and developmental patterns. These represent a class of clonal variants which are “age-related” and include “phase changes”, “juvenility–maturity” phenomena, and can affect morphology, thorniness, ease of rooting, etc. BF is related to a gene that affects environmental adaptation of the almond. Control is through the selection, maintenance and management of foundation clones.

The potential for noninfectious bud-failure in propagation source material for `Carmel' almond in California has been determined in progeny tests from commercial nursery sources. Percentage BF increased with time (temporal), but decreased in severity (spatial). Analysis of variability in nursery sources showed that the key to successful selection for low BF potential is the individual tree, although variability exists among nurseries, budsticks (within trees), and individual buds (within budsticks). One-half of the individual trees of the nursery population tested have produced BF progeny so far within the test period. Future BF from the remainder was project by a BF model to be beyond the critical economic threshold. Two low BF-potential single tree sources were identified for commercial usage and progeny tests have started on an additional 19.

Preharvest termination of weekly irrigation prior to harvest from late June to mid-August 1990 and 1991 was studied for control of almond hull rot disease caused by Rhizopus stolonifer. When trees were irrigated within 2 wk of harvest, there was more infection of hulls by R. stolonifer, more leas strikes per tree, and in 1991, more shoot and branch death per tree than when irrigation was discontinued earlier. Percent hull split incidence and hull moisture content increased as irrigation continued through the season, but these criteria did not explain differences in disease incidence among trees in the first six compared with the last two irrigation termination dates

Previously well irrigated mature `Nonpareil' almond trees (Prunus dulcis) were subjected to varying periods of water deprivation prior to harvest and then to either full or no postharvest irrigation. Eight preharvest water deprivation (PWD) lengths ranging from 14 to 63 days were evaluated on a sandy loam soil with a rooting depth of about 1.5 m.Development of tree water deficits occurred rapidly following PWD. Predawn leaf water potential decreased to about -1.8 and -3.1 MPa after 10 and 20 days, respectively. Defoliation began about 30 days after PWD and trees subjected to more than 50 days completely defoliated. The rate of hull split was directly related to the PWD duration. With early cutoffs, the size of the hull split-arrested nuts at harvest was large compared with the same nut type in later cutoffs suggesting that as nuts develop, large nuts are preferential sinks for assimilates. Kernel size was only mildly reduced by PWD during the first study year. There was a trend toward lower total kernel yield with longer PWD as a result of smaller kernel girth but yield differences were not significant. The number of nuts remaining in the tree after shaking was not related to PWD. Bark strength increased after PWD with 10 to 14 days required to prevent shaker damage. Postharvest irrigation resulted in late season defoliation but no rebloom. Bloom density reductions in 1990 were related more to the lack of 1989 postharvest irrigation than to early PWD.