Little Cherry
Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2
33 host plants
Last updated
This profile synthesizes data from multiple published sources. Expert field review is in progress.
Your sweet cherry produces small, poorly colored fruit lacking flavor; trees eventually decline. Little cherry virus-2 (LChV-2) spreads via apple and grape mealybugs and grafting. Plant only virus-tested stock, monitor for symptoms (check fruit flavor on suspect limbs), and remove infected trees immediately to prevent mealybug-mediated spread.
Establish new orchards only with nursery stock tested and found to be free of all known viruses. Virus-tested 'Kwanzan' and 'Shirofugen' trees have been released to nurseries for propagation.
Quick Reference
Management
Infection occurs at nursery propagation stage (grafting with infected scion/rootstock) or through mealybug vectors during growing season. Symptoms appear 1 year post-infection, typically visible at harvest when colored fruit is evaluated for quality and size. Trees in early infection phase may show scattered symptoms in pockets within orchards. Peak symptom visibility is at harvest (July-August in PNW) when fruit color and flavor defects become apparent. Once infected, trees remain infected for life with progressive impacts on fruit quality. Source: PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook
Symptom expression depends on virus species and cherry cultivar. Black cultivars show small poorly colored fruit with poor flavor. Bing may show small fruit for two seasons then recover fruit size (but flavor never recovers). Light-color cultivars like Royal Ann develop small pinkish fruit. Symptoms more pronounced in cool springs. Some cultivars show premature red leaf fall discoloration. Mixed infections with LChV-1 and LChV-2 increase severity. Virus titer and distribution patterns within tree influence symptom visibility. Source: PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook
Cultural Controls
- Establish new orchards only with nursery stock tested and found to be free of all known viruses.
- Virus-tested 'Kwanzan' and 'Shirofugen' trees have been released to nurseries for propagation.
- Check the flavor of fruit on limbs or trees with pink fruit when the rest of the trees are turning red or mahogany.
- If poor flavor then flag the limb for tree removal.
- Control programs for the apple and grape mealy bug will reduce spread in affected orchards.
- Apply insecticides prior to tree removal.