EVALUATION OF AN ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR WESTERN X-DISEASE IN SWEET CHERRY

The components of a western X-disease (WXD) abatement program for swee t cherry in California were evaluated in nine cherry orchards from 198 6 through 1990. Components of the program included removal of WXD-infe cted trees to reduce WXD inoculum in the orchards and post-harvest app lication of long-residual insecticides to reduce leafhopper population s. A stepwise linear regression of the percentage of new WXD infection s against the percentage of WXD-infected trees remaining in the orchar ds from one year to the next and insecticide residual longevity showed that WXD-infected tree removal was primarily responsible for reductio n in new WXD infections and that: insecticide residual longevity contr ibuted only a minor amount in suppression of new infections.