Washington State University and Oregon State University announced in a news release the availability of a new app designed to help orchardists scout, sample and identify symptoms and insect vectors of X disease phytoplasma and little cherry viruses.
Designed by WSU and OSU extension teams, the guide illustrates cherry symptoms, stone fruit symptoms, symptom variation, leafhopper vectors, scouting and sampling. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices.
According to the release, adults from the second generation of leafhopper vectors of X disease will soon be present in Northwest orchards. The app provides multiple images of important leafhopper species to help growers identify insects found in traps and sweeps.
Little cherry disease 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 your app store.
Funding support was provided by the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and the WSU Tree Fruit Endowment.
—by Jonelle Mejica
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