ULTRASONIC-DETECTION OF BORER DAMAGE IN CHERRY TREES

The use of ultrasonic measurements to distinguish between borer-damage d and nonborer-damaged fruit trees is presented. When a fruit tree is damaged by borer infestation, the properties of the boundary between t he bark and the trunk of the cherry tree change, and if the borer dama ge is extensive, large spatial cavities occur. The damaged areas conta in a greater percentage of air space, feces, Ean,ae, or other low dens ity matter when compared with samples from nonborer-damaged areas. The theoretical basis for ultrasonic detection of borer damage is describ ed. A microcomputer based detection system is described and data obtai ned from damaged and nonborer-damaged frees is presented.