Mottle leaf
Cherry mottle leaf virus
38 host plants
Last updated
Data Coverage 3 of 6 dimensions
Cherry leaves develop mottle and mottling from cherry mottle leaf virus, reducing tree vigor and production. The virus lives in wild cherries. Use virus-free stock, remove wild cherries nearby, avoid grafting with infected wood, and choose less susceptible cultivars than Bing or Royal Ann.
Remove affected material as you find it and clean up any fallen debris where mottle leaf spores can overwinter. Improve air circulation around susceptible plants through selective pruning. Avoid overhead irrigation during vulnerable growth periods. If the problem is persistent, your local Extension office can recommend current fungicide or bactericide options for your specific situation.
Quick Reference
Causal Agent
Cherry mottle leaf virus
Host Plants
38
Management
Cultural Controls
- Remove wild cherries in the vicinity of domestic cherry plantings.
- Do not plant extremely susceptible varieties ('Bing', 'Royal Ann') in areas with large wild cherry populations.
- A cultivar susceptibility list for this and other virus diseases is available in the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook.
- Remove infected trees.
- Plant certified virus-free stock.
- Do not graft or bud with infected wood.
Host Plants (38)
Betula lenta Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch, Black Birch Malus robusta Cherry, Crabapple Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Apricotc Japanese Flowering Apricot Japanese Flowering Plum Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry