FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF THE LITTLE CHERRY DISEASE IN NEW-ZEALAND

In a trial to determine if flowering cherries (Prunus serrulata Lindl.) were a source of little cherry disease, infection was found in seven of 10 species and cultivars tested. In an orchard trial with the cultivar 'Lambert', fruit symptoms of little cherry occurred in infected trees in the fifth year of fruiting, 8 years after planting. The symptoms also occurred in the two succeeding years, after which time the trial was terminated. The indicator 'Canindex I' showed more pronounced leaf reddening symptoms than the indicator 'Van', and has superseded it as an indicator for little cherry. Trees tested from old plantings of 'Dawson' sweet cherry (P. avium L.) which had been shown to have good, true to type fruiting characteristics, were mainly free from little cherry disease.