Pesticide Residue Studies - 2019 Cherry Report Now Available

In response to increasing industry concerns about meeting Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides in foreign markets, the WTFRC initiated studies in 2011 in apple and cherry to develop some residue data for commonly used insecticides and fungicides to help Washington growers make more informed choices about their spray programs. The WTFRC Internal Program recently completed its 2019 study in cherry which included 12 insecticides/acaricides and 5 fungicides, including a few new products. The results of that study are available below, as well as similar reports from previous years on apple and cherry; results of an ongoing WTFRC residue study in apple will be posted in September.

Act Now to Manage Little Cherry Disease

It is critical that growers act now to aggressively manage Little Cherry Disease. Now, after harvest is the time to sample for infected trees and remove trees that test positive. Manage vectors postharvest to help limit the spread of the pathogen. Removal of infected trees is paramount to slowing down the spread of the pathogen.

Western X is present across North America, throughout Washington State, and at epidemic levels in the Columbia River basin, with high incidence from Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties, and present in Oregon around Hood River.

For Western X Questions and Answers new from WSU visit http://treefruit.wsu.edu/article/western-x-questions-and-answers-what-do-we-know-what-do-we-not-know/

For management recommendations for Little Cherry Virus and Western X including the latest sampling recommendations and recommendations for post-harvest leafhopper vector management. Visit

http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/disease-management/western-x/

http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/disease-management/little-cherry-disease/

Western X Postharvest Strategy

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL CHERRY GROWERS TAKE NOTICE:

Western X Disease is on the rampage throughout the Yakima Valley, Mid and Upper Valley, and the Columbia Basin (Tri-Cities area). It is vectored by several species of Leafhoppers. This disease is responsible for wiping out the California Cherry Industry in the 70’s and 80’s. We are at a critical stage right now as many blocks in the above-mentioned areas have been significantly impacted or removed from production. If immediate actions are not taken our Washington Industry will suffer the same fate as our neighbors to the South.

The only way to control the spread of Western X is to kill the vectors (Leafhoppers) and remove infected trees that serve as a source for the spread of the disease. Infected trees oftentimes infect adjacent trees through root-grafting and must also be removed.

Much of the information with regard to life cycles, host plants, etc., is not completely known at this time for the relevant Leafhopper species in our regions. While it is imperative that we learn this information, we need to react now because time is not on our side. At this point in time, with these limitations or knowledge gaps, we should error and react on the side of being aggressive. This means we should be spraying blocks every 21 days (or less if in areas with high infection rates). These sprays need to continue until November, when insect activity ceases for the season. This translates out to 4-5 post-harvest sprays that will kill both adult and nymphal stages. In many cases miticides will need to be added to the mix as needed. As we learn more about life cycles, timings, and chemical efficacies, we can adjust programs.

Talk with your field, crop, and warehouse consultants and make a plan. There are a number of products available that will kill adult and nymphs while still allowing you to keep a product chemistry rotation that will help keep resistance issues minimized.

If you are in an area that also hosts Apple or Grape Mealybugs you will want to cover for Little Cherry Virus, which is vectored by Mealybugs. Discuss this with your crop consultants.

Summary of Priorities:

Spray for vector control now and through the remainder of the growing season (November).
Test and remove infected trees. Leave stump and spray it and surrounding suckers with Roundup.
Educate yourself and staff to understand and identify symptoms as we move ahead. Keep in tune with Industry press and websites for updates and additional information. A great source of general information on both Little Cherry and Western X can be found on the WSU Extention website: treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/disease-management/western-x

Clean Plant Center Northwest offers low cost little cherry disease testing

Thanks to the support of the WA Tree Fruit Research Commission, the Virus Diagnostic Laboratory at the Clean Plant Center Northwest, WSU-IAREC, is able to offer reduced cost testing for Little cherry virus-2 and the X-disease phytoplasma ($9.06 for one pathogen, $10.61 for both, per sample). We hope that this will encourage growers to get their trees tested, and help in the efforts to map the spread of this devastating disease. More information about Little cherry disease sample collection and submission can be found at: http://cpcnw.wsu.edu/lcdtests/

WA 38 Starch Scale Article and Downloadable Guide

Ines Hanrahan and Marcella Galeni of the WA Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) recently published an article in "Fruit Matters" highlighting the development of a starch scale for WA38 production. Below are links to the story and to download the guide for use.

http://treefruit.wsu.edu/developing-a-cv-wa-38-starch-scale-for-the-washington-state-apple-industry/

http://treefruit.wsu.edu/wa38-starch-scale/

WTFRC nominated for Wenatchee Valley Non-Profit of the Year

The WA Tree Fruit Research Commission recently was recognized as a finalist for "Non-Profit of the Year" by the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce. Each year, the Chamber holds a large banquet and highlights the finalizst for the Business of the Year, Non-Profit, and Cornerstone Award. Once notified of its finalist status, Voortex Productions visited the Commission and put together a brief video showcasing the COmmission's staff and its mission.

You can view this video by clicking on the YouTube link below.

https://youtu.be/AG43qRfxzi4

Tree Fruit Industry Calendar

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Fruit Matters

The latest edition of "Fruit Matters", is now available. This monthly newsletter is a product of the Tree Fruit Extension team which is comprised of members from WSU and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission whose goal is to share timely information with the tree fruit community.

WSU - WTFRC Fruit Matters