Management of leafhoppers in Washington cherries

Sunday, November 13, 2022

2:30 PM – 2:42 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 202

Presenting Author(s)

Katlyn A. Catron (she/her/hers)

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Washington State University
Wenatchee, Washington

Co-Author(s)

Louis B. Nottingham

Research Assistant Professor
Washington State University
Wenatchee, Washington

X-disease (Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni) is a leafhopper-vectored phytoplasma disease of stone fruit trees (Prunus spp.) that spreads rapidly, renders fruit unmarketable, and has no cure. X-disease has reached epidemic levels in Washington cherries and recommendations for insecticidal management of leafhopper vectors (including Colladonus reductus) are informed by limited, outdated, or geographically disparate research. We examined the efficacy of fifteen commercially available insecticide products in direct spray assays, five in aged residue assays, and three in repellency assays for control or deterrence of leafhopper vectors of X-disease in cherry. Mortality in the direct spray assays ranged from 2.0% to 100.0%. Of the active ingredients tested, dinotefuran, malathion, pyrethrins and azadirachtin, and imidacloprid achieved 100% leafhopper mortality after 24 to 36 hours of continuous exposure. Mortality in leafhoppers exposed to aged residues ranged from 0.0% to 92.9%.