Questions about diseased cherry

Discussion in 'Woody Plants' started by hungry hippo, Apr 21, 2004.

  1. hungry hippo

    hungry hippo Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    I have several flowering cherries on my property, some of which I planted myself about ten years ago. These are mostly named varieties such as Mt. Fuji and Kwanzaan (sp?) and they are doing fine. I also have planted several fruiting varietes such as Rainier and Bing and they are doing fine too. The problem is with the old flowering cherries that were on the property when I moved in. They all seem to have some type of canker that causes them to produce small clumps or "florets" of leaf growth, as well as fasciation and distorted branch growth. My questions are... is this disease treatable or are these trees beyond the point of no return? Are my newer varieties vulnerable and if so is there anything I can do to protect them? Any help would be appreciated.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,424
    Likes Received:
    24
    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    Can you supply a pic of the entire tree? What I would want to know
    is how widespread is this condition in your trees? You say that only
    the older flowering Cherries are affected?

    I have dealt with this condition before in Bing and Black Tartarian
    Cherries.

    Jim
     
  3. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,424
    Likes Received:
    24
    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    Hi Hungry Hippo:

    What really dismayed me last evening is that there is only one article
    online in "varied" relation to this condition on Fruit and Nut Trees and
    that article from our Cooperative Extension only pertains to young
    Almonds. The subject of this non-infectious "disease" on young
    Almonds sent me into another tailspin as I was taught over 30 years
    ago to know this physiological disorder in much older Almonds
    (Cherries also), generally 15-25 year olds that either had not been
    pruned in several years or the pruning quality was sub-standard.
    This condition does show up in some but not all Cherries as well as
    some of the older varietal Plums.

    Just work with me and I can supply you with a non-chemical means of
    dealing with it providing we have enough tree left to work with. Call
    it an "Earth Day special" as I have a strong suspicion the number of
    people online that will know what this condition is, is probably less
    than a handful and that perceived reality is another shocker for me.

    http://cekern.ucdavis.edu/Custom_Program485/Noninfectious_Bud_Failure_or_-Crazy_Top-_in_Almonds.htm

    Jim
     
  4. Douglas Justice

    Douglas Justice Well-Known Member UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society 10 Years

    Messages:
    976
    Likes Received:
    59
    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    The kind of distorted growth pictured (fasciation) is typical of infection by Pseudomonas syringae (bacterial canker), which is extremely common in older, (especially pruned) fruiting cherries. There is little you can do to rid these trees of the disease, as the disease becomes systemic and only in the early stages of infection can the tree successfully compartmentalize the damage. The bacteria are easily transported on infected tissue, tools, by insects, rain and wind.

    See this fact sheet from Oregon State Extension for more information.
     
  5. hungry hippo

    hungry hippo Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Thank-you very much to both Mr. Shep and Douglas for your suggestions. I wish I had known about the resistant rootstock when I planted my trees, but I guess that is one of the hazards of growing fruit in the coastal north-west. Due to the fact that my newer (and beloved) cherry trees may be at risk from this bacterial disease, I have decided to consult with a local arborist who comes highly recommended to better assess my course of action. I will post any successful results! Thanks again.
     
  6. douglas

    douglas Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    princegeorge b.c
    Hi all. there is a spray mixture that I have used successfully for this problem. As it is an old wives tail that works and is non toxic to the world ( at least not to the effect of others) Assuming that the trees are not to far gone.

    Regards dougs

    I first used it in desparation in Chilliwack B.C to save a 30 year old cherry tree.
     
  7. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    3,511
    Likes Received:
    235
    Location:
    sw USA
    bump

    One year ago now. Any update on the trees Hungry Hippo?

    What is the spray mixture PG ?
     

Share This Page