Canindex 1, a Superior Indicator Cultivar for Little Cherry Disease. A. Juergen Hansen, Research Scientist, Agriculture Canada, Research Station, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0. Linda Green, Technician, Agriculture Canada, Research Station, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0. Plant Dis. 69:11-12. Accepted for publication 21 June 1984. Copyright 1985 Department of Agriculture, Government of Canada. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-11.

In a search for a better indicator of little cherry (LC) disease, symptom development (early red foliage coloration) was evaluated on 2,000 bud-inoculated sweet cherry seedlings. One promising seedling was selected, freed of LC by thermotherapy, and cloned. Preliminary comparative tests in British Columbia have shown that LC-inoculated trees of this seedling developed earlier red leaf coloration than the standard indicator cultivars Deacon and Sam. The new indicator also facilitated clear distinction between healthy and LC-infected source trees because uninoculated control trees of the new indicator cultivar retained green foliage until just before leaf drop in late October, whereas healthy Sam control trees began to show red foliage in late September. The name Canindex 1 is proposed for the new indicator cultivar. To establish the usefulness of Canindex 1 as an LC indicator under other environmental conditions, tests in other geographic areas are recommended.