Root and crown rot of cherry trees

Decline and death of bearing cherry trees resulted in an estimated loss of 22 percent of all sweet cherry trees in San Joaquin County during 1973-75. During 1972-74 heavier than normal rainfall occurred, especially during late winter and early spring. In 1975 some orchards were almost 100 percent affected with crown and root rots. In previous years crown and root rot diseases were always prevalent in cherry orchards on poorly drained soil, but in 1975 these losses were excessive, and growers were forced to remove many acres of declining and dead trees.