Little cherry disease in a fruit farm at the Niederelbe ("Altes Land")

Little cherry disease (LCD) was detected as such at the Niederelbe in the early 80s and is observed spreading since. Until now two clostero-viruses were detected and investigated on the molecular level (LChV1 and LChV2), but the use of that knowledge in performing PCR-detection did not lead to a coincidence of the presence of these two viruses with the presence of LCD. So symptomatological screening is still required. In a particular farm all cherry orchards were screened for the presence of LCD. They are all grouped around the farm buildings and so in a close juxtaposition. Despite that, every orchard shows a distinct pattern when the data are arranged according to symptom severity indicating a multifactorial incidence in the disease spread.