Evaluation of cherry cultivar susceptibility to bacterial canker and leaf spot disease

Abstract

In this study, the susceptibility of different sweet (19) and sour cherry (3) cultivars (cvs.) to the bacterial pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and P. s. pv. morsprunorum race 1 causing bacterial canker (sensu stricto) and leaf spot was evaluated. Susceptibility to bacterial canker was examined by artificial inoculations of 1-year-old rooted trees, which revealed susceptibility of all cvs. to both P. syringae pathovars. Susceptibility level differed among cvs.; sweet cherry cvs. Katalin, Linda, Summit, New Star and Bigarreau Burlat were highly susceptible, sour cherry cvs. erdi botermo and sweet cherry Drogan's Yellow, Carmen, Germersdorfer and Noir de Meched were susceptible. Sour cherry cvs. Spanska and ujfehertoi furtos, as well as sweet cherry cv. Rita were found to be less susceptible to bacterial canker. Susceptibility to bacterial leaf spot disease was evaluated on naturally infected (field conditions) and artificially inoculated leaves (laboratory conditions). Severe symptoms of bacterial spot with shot hole appearance were observed in cherry leaves at the beginning of May under field conditions. In all collected leaf samples, presence of P. s. pv. morsprunorum race 1 was determined. Sweet cherries Valery Chkalov, Summit, Bigarreau Burlat and New Star were highly susceptible to this bacterium. No symptoms of bacterial spot were found on sweet cherries Solomary gomboly, Linda, Germersdorfer, Hedelfinger, Katalin, Margit, Carmen, Aida, Sunburst, Alex, Peter, Rita and Kavics and sour cherry erdi botermo. In laboratory conditions, susceptibility of the tested cvs. varied and mostly depended on the inoculation method. Nonetheless, sweet cherry cvs. Carmen and Margit and sour cherry erdi botermo exhibited a certain level of resistance.