Managing pests and diseases is essential for ensuring high-quality cherry production, and growers who adopt effective control strategies are more likely to achieve a successful harvest.
Cherry growers who effectively control pests and diseases in the orchard are more likely to have a quality cherry harvest.
The Australian cherry industry advocates using integrated pest and disease management (IPDM). This involves using a range of approaches such as monitoring, cultural, biological and chemical control measures for pests and diseases.
Highlighted below are some of the most common pests and diseases in the Australian cherry industry, summarised from NSW DPIRD’s Orchard Plant Protection Guide for Deciduous Fruits in NSW; this list is not exhaustive, so professional advice should be sought for the most appropriate management practices.
Alternaria leaf blotch is characterised by irregular red–brown lesions on the leaves that often exhibit blackish-purple borders. Typically, leaf blotch first appears from late spring to early summer and can increase in severity through to harvest.
In favourable weather conditions, the alternaria leaf blotches will continue to grow, and when the leaf is half covered by lesions, it will turn yellow and drop prematurely from the tree.
Due to the similarity of alternaria leaf blotch and fruit spot symptoms to those caused by other problems e.g. fungal diseases and physical damage, it is important to have symptoms assessed by an expert to correctly apply control measures.
Image: Leaf yellowing from alternaria leaf blotch supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Trees infected with bacterial canker will have dead bark and when the sunken surface bark is removed, the underlying tissue will be orange-brown. Large amounts of gum can exude from the trunk and bark cankers. The infection first appears on the leaves as water-soaked spots, which can turn brown and fall out as the leaves age. They can also have a yellowing, rolled appearance. Bacterial canker can be identified on the fruit by sunken spots with dark centres and occasionally with underlying gum pockets.
Bacterial canker is favoured by wet, windy conditions in autumn and early winter before and during leaf-fall. Damage to trees and limbs from pruning and hail or wind during early dormancy increases disease risk. Rain during the growing season will encourage the disease to spread throughout the orchard. Bacterial canker can cause economic loss through a reduced fruit yield and branches or whole trees dying.
Inspect orchard trees regularly throughout the growing season for signs of dieback and/or gum-producing cankers. Severely infected trees should be promptly removed.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Bacterial canker in cherry supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Fruit infected with bacterial spot will have small, circular, greasy spots that will sink and darken as the fruit enlarges. These spots often crack, providing entry points for secondary diseases. Similar greasy or water-soaked spots can be seen on the leaves of infected trees.
Extensive leaf spotting results in ripped and tattered foliage. Up to half the fruit can become unsaleable due to cosmetic damage.
Monitor leaves and fruit throughout the season to ensure early detection, as the infection is difficult to control once established. Wet conditions between blossom and petal fall favour infection on leaves and fruit. Windy, wet conditions and heavy dew during the growing season will also favour secondary infections. Extra caution is recommended during these conditions.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Bacterial spot on fruit leaves supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Blossom blight results in brown, shrivelled, dead flowers and some dieback of the associated shoot growth. Brown rot infection appears as a soft brown decay of the developing fruit, which exhibits profuse brown–grey spores over the surface of the infection as it matures. Infected fruit will sometimes shrivel and hang on the tree. These mummified fruit and infected shoots are a major source of carry-over spores for the next season and should be removed from the orchard.
Blossom blight and brown rot can cause significant flower, shoot and crop loss if not carefully managed. Blossom blight reduces the number of viable flowers and damages fruiting shoots. Brown rot makes fruit unsaleable and late-season infections can lead to fruit breakdown during postharvest storage, handling and marketing.
Blossom and/or fruit infection is likely when the disease was present in the previous season, and with warm conditions (around 20 °C or greater) combined with moisture from heavy dew or rain. Due to the high potential for losses, particularly in warm, wet seasons, it is worth regularly monitoring these diseases. Check flowers, shoots and developing fruit for signs of rot at least weekly and particularly following favourable weather conditions.
For control measures and management options, see the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Brown rot on cherry supplied by Kevin Dodds, NSW DPIRD.
Adult black peach aphids (BPA) can be winged or wingless, are shiny, black and about 2 mm long. Nymphs are reddish-brown. Green peach aphid (GPA) nymphs are pale yellowish-green and have 3 dark lines on the back of the abdomen. Mature aphids are pale green or pinkish and about 2 mm long.
GPA is a particular concern because of its role in transmitting plant viruses. Aphid infestation can cause leaf and shoot tip distortion. Aphids feed on the leaves, extracting sap and causing leaves to turn yellow and drop. Honeydew produced by a heavy infestation during the growing season can result in sooty mould developing on the tree and fruit.
Check leaves and new growth for BPA and GPA infestation weekly from budswell to ripening. Aphid numbers can increase quickly, therefore regular inspections are important during the first half of the growing season.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Wingless adult female and nymph stage supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Adult mites are broad and flat, approximately 0.5 mm long and deep reddish-brown. Their front legs are as long as their body. They are often seen pressed flat against the leaf surface or as masses of red eggs on branches and stems. Without a microscope or good hand lens, bryobia mite can be confused with European red mite.
Bryobia mites damage the leaves by sucking sap, generally feeding on the upper surface. Damage from this feeding appears as whitish-grey spots, giving the leaf a stippled appearance. Heavily infested leaves will become pale and can prematurely fall. Fruit growth is rarely affected. There are several ways to quantify the risk posed by mite populations, including counts, presence or absence, percentage of leaves infested and cumulative leaf-infested days (CLIDs). Your local Integrated Pest Management consultant should be able to provide more advice on applying these methods in your orchard.
Monitor for bryobia mites fortnightly from late spring to the end of summer. More frequent monitoring might be needed if conditions are hot and dry, as this accelerates pest development. Inspecting leaves throughout the orchard using a hand lens can be a good way to detect early mite activity. Leaf samples can be collected and inspected using a microscope to determine the number of eggs, active mites, predatory mites and other beneficial insects present. Commercial mite monitoring services exist in some growing regions.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: An adult bryobia mite supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Carpophilus beetles are small (2–3 mm long) and black or brown. Their wing covers are short and they have clubbed antennae. The larvae are yellowish, about 5 mm long when fully grown, have a brown head and forked tail.
Most commercial damage is done to ripening stone fruit, which can be damaged on the tree as beetles burrow into the fruit, particularly near the stem end suture line. Adults lay eggs in rotting and damaged fruit on the orchard floor. Mature larvae emerge from the fruit and pupate in the ground. Adults overwinter on the tree under bark or in mummified fruit. The adult can fly several kilometres in search of hosts. Summer rain and rotting fruit are ideal conditions for breeding. Carpophilus adults are a major vector of brown rot.
Using pheromone traps early in the season will give warning of carpophilus arrival or emergence, helping with early control and management. Weekly fruit inspections leading up to harvest might help identify the start of fruit infestation.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Carpophilus beetle supplied by Pest and Diseases Image Library.
Adult cherry aphids are dark and approximately 2 mm long. The adult population consists of winged and wingless individuals. The nymphs are dark brown to black. Cherry aphid eggs are shiny, oval-shaped and usually found on the underside of leaves.
Aphids will often inhabit terminal leaf shoots particularly on young leaves. Infested leaves will curl, providing a protected space for aphids to continue feeding. Honeydew secreted by the aphids can result in sooty mould growth on the fruit, making it unmarketable. If the infestation is severe, leaves might turn brown and drop.
Examine trees regularly during and shortly after budbreak for aphids. Particular attention should be paid to the terminal shoot tips. Continued monitoring each fortnight until harvest is recommended.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Cherry aphids on a bud supplied by Mariusz Sobleski, Bugwood.org.
Galls form on the crown of the plant (the point at the soil line where the main roots join the stem) and on the roots. They can also form on the main stem above the soil level or on branches. There might not be any visible effect on the plant other than the galls. If infection is severe and many galls are present, plants, particularly young ones, can be stunted and unthrifty, and can die if they are stressed by dry conditions. However, these symptoms are not diagnostic for crown gall; the presence of galls identifies the disease.
Galls first appear as small, pale, roughened lumps of tissue. They enlarge, darken and become convoluted. The galls can be 25–50 mm in diameter on nursery plants and up to 300 mm on trees in the field. Crown gall causes the greatest financial loss in the nursery; up to 80% of plants can be lost, with the symptoms only being noticed when the plants are dug up for sale. Suppliers are legally required to reject all infected plants before sale.
Check nursery stock and new trees for galls on receipt and before planting; notify the nursery supplier if crown gall is suspected. Young trees that look weak or stunted can be dug up and the crown area can be inspected for galls.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Crown gall on stone fruit seedling. Illustration supplied by Margaret Senior.
Adult European earwigs are dark brown with yellow-brown legs and shoulders. They are 12–24 mm long and have thin, segmented antennae with a pair of pincers at the rear of the body. European earwig males have longer curved pincers and females have straight pincers. European earwigs will feed on foliage, leaving irregularly shaped holes. In fruit trees, most economic loss occurs from the earwigs feeding on the fruit, causing shallow depressions that can be the perfect host for brown rot. In cherries, significant damage can occur when earwigs feed on the stems of developing fruitlets.
European earwigs will feed on foliage, leaving irregularly shaped holes. In fruit trees, most economic loss occurs from the earwigs feeding on the fruit, causing shallow depressions that can be the perfect host for brown rot. In cherries, significant damage can occur when earwigs feed on the stems of developing fruitlets.
Monitoring for European earwigs can include physically inspecting the fruit and leaves as well as trapping using pitfall traps or cardboard covers. When inspecting fruit, look closely among fruit clusters as the adult earwigs will use these areas as shelter, particularly during daylight. Earwig activity can also be monitored by placing sections of rolled corrugated cardboard in the tree canopy and checking once or twice a week for the pest. Adult earwigs will use the cardboard rolls as shelter, making them easy to find. Monitoring pest activity can help with the timing of spraying and/or baiting programs.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Adult European earwigs, male (left) and female (right) supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Freckle infection on the fruit will appear as greenish–brown to black spots arising at the stem end, which can combine to form a greenish, velvety blotched area if the infection is severe. Symptoms on the leaves first appear as pale, green areas, which go dark brown as the disease progresses.
Damage from freckle can affect fruit growth and increase the incidence of cracks in the fruit, making it unmarketable. With severe infection, leaves can fall prematurely, reducing photosynthetic capacity and general tree decline.
To control infection, monitor weather conditions and take a preventative approach. Freckle is favoured by temperatures between 18 °C and 24 °C after rain.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Usually, the first sign of fruit tree borers will be webbed sawdust material on scaffold branches or on the trunk where major branches intersect. Adult moths are cream–white with a black and orange abdomen, about 20 to 25 mm long, with a wingspan of about 40 mm. The forewings each have one small black dot. The larvae are cream with a dark head.
Fruit tree borers damage stone fruit trees when the larvae (caterpillars) chew the bark and tunnel into the stem or trunk. This damage often results in a complete ring-barking of the branch or trunk. When severe, it can lead to tree decline and eventual death. In young trees, the damage can cause the loss of a leader branch, affecting tree training and shape.
Inspect structural limbs and tree trunks for telltale sawdust patches.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Sawdust patch on a borer-infested cherry tree supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Oriental fruit moths (OFM) are small, grey–brown and approximately 5–7 mm long. Although rarely seen in the orchard during the day, they might be seen near the tree tops in the late afternoon when temperatures are above 18 °C. OFM eggs are cream, small, round and approximately 0.7 mm in diameter. Larvae are creamy white and overwinter as pupae that can be found under the bark or in tree wounds, particularly around the lower tree trunk.
Warm, moist conditions favourable for tree growth and brown rot are also favourable for OFM. Hot, dry, windy conditions can reduce heavy infestations in spring. Cold winters can reduce the carry-over population. During spring, the newly hatched larvae will burrow into the young shoot tips to feed for up to 4 weeks. This causes the young shoots to wilt and collapse. The second generation can attack shoots and green or ripening fruit. Cherries can be damaged early in the season by larvae after they leave the shoots. Fruit damage is first noticeable as a gummy exudate that might include some sawdust-like frass.
Pheromone traps can indicate when moths are active and estimate population levels. However, they are not an effective monitoring tool where mating disruption is used as the pheromone cloud will interfere with the traps. In sprayed orchards, pheromone traps deployed early in the season, around bloom, will help determine a biofix date as the basis for calculating degree days and predicting first generation egg hatch. Regularly inspecting shoots and fruit will help identify the early stages of any OFM infestations. Look for dying shoot tips and/or gummy exudates on fruit.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Adult oriental fruit moth, supplied by Eric LaGasa, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.
The covering of the female oystershell scale is usually around 4 mm long, elongated and tapers to a point. They are often slightly curved, resembling an oyster shell. They are usually brown with waxy scales that are cream on the underside. They have short antennae but no eyes or legs.
Oystershell scale feed on the trunks and branches of fruit trees, killing the areas at the feeding site. Heavy infestations will reduce growth, cause foliage yellowing and bark cracking, and can lead to plant death.
Monitor branches for oystershell-shaped bumps and yellowing leaves to determine the correct timing for control, which will reduce oystershell scale populations.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Oystershell scale infestation supplied by Rosa Henderson, New Zealand Biosecurity.
Peach leaf curl is often seen in the top of the canopy, where spray coverage might not have reached. The infection will appear on younger leaves first; they will be pink–red with the characteristic curling.
Peach leaf curl is favoured by a cool, wet spring around budswell followed by warm, humid conditions, which bring about rapid growth. The optimum temperature range for fungal growth is between 20 °C and 26 °C. After the initial infection, leaves will curl and become severely distorted. Leaves then tend to turn yellow and fall, causing new tissue to replace fallen leaves. The energy required for this new growth reduces fruit set and weakens trees. Leaf curl can also affect young shoots, which become stunted and distorted, often resulting in the death of the shoot. Infected fruit will have raised, irregularly shaped and rough areas on the skin surface.
Correctly timing protectant sprays in early spring, particularly copper-based fungicides, is vital for controlling the disease. Monitor bud development in late winter to early spring to ensure correct spray timing according to label instructions. Monitor and record the incidence of leaf infection.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Peach leaf curl, supplied by Paul Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, Bugwood.org
Pear and cherry slugs are easily identified as dark-brown to black slugs or leech-like larvae approximately 5–10 mm long.
The larvae damage pear and cherry trees by feeding on the upper surfaces of leaves, resulting in a skeletonised appearance. Severe infestations will deplete the trees’ photosynthetic capacity, affecting shoot and fruit growth. Pear and cherry slug infestations are common throughout the growing season, but can also accelerate after harvest, particularly in cherry orchards, when the whole of the tree canopy can brown off prematurely.
Watch for pear and cherry slug activity while working in the orchard throughout the season. Early detection can help prevent significant leaf damage.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: Adult pear and cherry slug supplied by Kevin Dodds, NSW DPIRD.
Adult plague thrips are visible to the naked eye and can be seen during flowering, crawling on petals and around the reproductive parts of the flowers. They are usually brown, narrow-bodied and about 1.0–1.3 mm long.
Plague thrips can damage temperate fruit crops in 2 main ways. Firstly, when they are present in very large numbers, their feeding on flowers results in damage to the stamens and stigmas, thereby affecting pollination and fruit set. Secondly, feeding on the developing fruitlet surface causes a russet to develop that becomes unsightly as the fruit grows, making it unmarketable.
Monitor for plague thrips using yellow sticky traps placed throughout the orchard from budburst to shuckfall. The traps can indicate thrips activity levels and can also be used to obtain a formal identification of the pest species.
Check out this Hort Innovation report on thrips species in NSW cherries and the timing of associated ring russet injury (CY16000). The final report can be found here.
Image: Plague thrip on flower supplied by NSW DPIRD.
The foliage of infected trees will develop a silvery sheen caused by light shining through leaf cells damaged by toxins produced by the fungus.
Overall tree health declines, with reduced leaf area, poor root growth and low yields of poor quality fruit that does not store well. In storage, infected fruit is susceptible to decay caused by other secondary infections.
Damp, overcast conditions can increase the incidence of silver leaf in orchards. Particular attention to pruning wounds when these conditions are present is recommended. Other forms of wound sites such as from hail, could create infection sites for silver leaf and should be monitored regularly.
View the full factsheet HERE.
Image: The silver sheen on an apple leaf affected by silver leaf, supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Adult female Two-spotted mite (TSM) are approximately 0.6 mm long and while they can be seen with the naked eye, are best viewed with a 10× hand lens or light microscope. They are opaque, cream and have 2 distinctive dark patches (spots) on either side of the upper and forward part of the body. Adult males are smaller and less distinctive than females. Eggs are also opaque, cream and very small, about 0.1 mm. TSM activity is often associated with webbing over the affected foliage.
TSM damage crops by feeding mostly on the underside of leaves, causing cells to turn yellow-white and lose their photosynthetic capacity. Heavy feeding causes severe speckling of the foliage, giving the trees a bronzed look. Leaf bronzing can significantly affect normal tree function and can lead to premature leaf drop, negatively affecting fruit development and colouring in red fruit varieties. With TSM, this feeding damage is usually first noticed in the inner and lower third of the tree canopy.
During the growing season and particularly as spring and summer temperatures increase, monitor the undersides of leaves for TSM and their eggs. Webbing can indicate that mite populations are in the canopy. TSM should not be confused with other orchard pest mites such as European red mite or Bryobia mite. Scouting for plant damage such as bronzed or yellowed leaves can be a quick way to identify pest mite hotspots. There are several ways to quantify the risk from mite populations including mite counts, presence or absence, percentage of leaves infested and cumulative leaf-infested days (CLIDs). Your local IPM consultant should be able to help with applying these methods.
Image: Two-spotted mite adults supplied by NSW DPIRD.
Director
Tony Hannaford is a cherry grower from South Australia, producing based predominantly in the Torrens Valley of the Adelaide Hills.
Tony’s family have a long history of orcharding. Tony introduced cherries in 1985 and now has multiple varieties spanning a long season with fruit delivered across Australia and the globe. This is all supported by the latest technology in the packing shed.
Tony has long supported and been active for the cherry industry – having also served on the Cherry Industry Strategic Investment Advisory Panel.
Director
Nic Hansen is a fourth-generation cherry grower based in Southern Tasmania and brings deep grower knowledge and long-standing industry involvement to the CGA Board.
Nic grows sweet cherries at Old Beach and is part of Hansen Orchards, one of Tasmania’s largest cherry growing businesses. He has previously represented Tasmania as the State Director on the CGA Board and has served on the HIA Cherry SIAP, contributing to national industry planning and decision-making.
Nic is currently serving his second term as President of Fruit Growers Tasmania. He brings a strong grower perspective, practical experience, and a commitment to effective industry leadership, supporting CGA’s role as the national peak body for Australian cherry growers.
Honorary Treasurer
Grant Piggott has been Chief Executive Officer of Fruit Producers SA, the grower association for cherries in South Australia since 2023 and served as its representative on the Cherry Growers Australia Board from June 2024.
He brings significant experience in finance, strategy and commercial management. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served for 15 years as an elected member in Local Government.
Grant treasures his childhood on a wheat sheep farm in the Upper North of South Australia, still owned by his family. He has maintained links to primary production for almost 30 years of his working career, primarily through his senior management role at the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA.
In his short tenure as industry representative, he has developed a passion for the successful growing and marketing of quality cherries. Grant is convinced of the deserved glamour status of cherries – healthy, photogenic, delicious, easy to eat and inextricably associated with the joy of Summer and Christmas.
Following his involvement as part of the team which guided the change of Cherry Growers Australia to a company limited by guarantee in May 2025, Grant was invited to serve as a Director on the Board in September 2025 and was appointed Treasurer.
Director
Andrew Fairley bio coming soon
Director
Fiona has been an active participant in the cherry industry for 25 years. She was President of NSW Cherry Growers in the past and has served on the cherry Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP) for past 5 years.
Fiona is currently a board member of Apple & Pear Aust Ltd (APAL) and the FAR (finance, audit and risk) committee for APAL. APAL manage domestic and international brands of produce including Pink Lady® apples. APAL is also the PIB for the 400 plus growers of Australia.
Fiona manages the business activities of BiteRiot, reporting to a board each month. She brings a wealth of experience across corporate governance & strategic planning, finance, business and marketing to the CGA board.
Deputy Chair
Greg Perry brings extensive leadership experience across the cherry industry, infrastructure, and project management, with a strong focus on governance, strategy, and commercial oversight.
Raised in the cherry industry, Greg has a deep understanding of production challenges and the importance of long-term industry sustainability. He is the Managing Director of a project management consultancy, delivering complex infrastructure, development, and operational programs across multiple sectors.
Greg has held senior leadership and board-level roles in both industry and government-aligned organisations, including service on the NSW Cherry Growers Association board and advisory roles supporting strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and investment decision-making. His experience spans financial oversight, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and guiding organisations through periods of structural change.
Greg brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to the CGA Board, with a strong commitment to governance integrity, member representation, and supporting the continued growth and resilience of the Australian cherry industry.
Chair
I grew up on our family farm in Wandin and picked cherries at an early age.
I loved the camaraderie of working with people and still do today. It is a buzz that makes coming to work enjoyable regardless of what you are doing!!
I studied to be a secondary Art and Craft teacher. However, I wanted to work in the industry first so worked in design and sales in the textile industry in Melbourne and Sydney.
Missing the family business in Sydney I returned to the family, cherries, and WandinValley Farms.
In 2007 our family bought the remaining shares in Wandin Valley Farms, and we all became involved in the business.
In 2016 I became the CEO of Wandin Valley Farms.
I am proud of what we do and the industry we are involved in. We produce a product that is fresh, flavorsome, healthy and creates excitement all bundled in with Christmas and Summer!!
Elected to VCA committee 26th October 2009
Elected to President of VCA 17th October 2013
Elected to President of CGA 24th January 2024