Common Sweet Cherry - Bacterial Canker
Bacterial
Canker (bacterium - Psuedomonas syrinigae pv. syringae): This
bacterium causes cankers, gummosis, and shoot blight (photo).
Sunken lesions appear in the spring with gummosis. Cracks and cankering follow,
resulting in a girdled stem. The foliage becomes yellow, curled, and withered.
Wet spring weather can result in shoot blight and a small angular leafspot.
(photo)This is usually only a problem in young
orchards. Use resistant F12-1 Mazzard rootstock. Remove girdled branches. Spray
with copper hydroxide in October and January. This bacterium also attacks peaches.
See the peach section for more detail.