Cherry tree

Prunus avium

1. Identification and origin

The cherry tree (Prunus avium L.) is a deciduous tree species of the Rosaceae family, native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. It is widely cultivated for fruit production (cherry) and used as a forest and ornamental species due to its elegant habit and spring flowering.

2. Economic importance

The cherry is a fruit of high commercial value, consumed fresh, preserved or processed. The wood of Prunus avium is highly prized in joinery, furniture and finishes due to its fine texture and warm colour. The species also has ecological importance as a provider of food for fauna and as a component of mixed woodlands.

3. Botanical characterisation

Medium-sized tree, generally 15–25 m in height, with a rounded crown and a straight trunk. The leaves are simple, ovate, serrate, of a bright green colour. The flowers are white, hermaphroditic, gathered in small corymbs, appearing in early spring. The fruits are globose drupes, ranging from red to almost black in colour, depending on the cultivar. The root system is deep and vigorous, conferring good anchorage.

4. Soil and climate requirements

It prefers temperate climates, with winters cold enough to break dormancy and moderate summers. It develops best on deep, well-drained, fertile soils, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. It is sensitive to waterlogging and to late frosts, which can affect flowering. It requires good light for adequate fruiting.

5. Main pests

• Cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi): perforations and destruction of the pulp.
• Aphids (Aphididae): leaf curling and transmission of viral diseases.
• Mites (Tetranychidae): chloroses and loss of vigour.
• Codling moth (Cydia spp.): damage to fruits, especially in mixed orchards.
• Xylophagous insects (Coleoptera): perforations in weakened wood.

6. Main diseases

• Brown rot (Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena): rotting of the fruits and drying of branches.
• Shot hole (Wilsonomyces carpophilus): leaf perforations and lesions on fruits.
• Cankers (Leucostoma spp.): necrosis on branches and decline.
• Powdery mildew (Podosphaera clandestina): white mycelium on young leaves.
• Root rots (Armillaria spp., Phytophthora spp.): decline in poorly drained soils.

7. General crop management

Management includes the choice of adapted cultivars, suitable rootstocks, formation and maintenance pruning, balanced fertilisation and controlled irrigation. Monitoring of cherry fruit fly and brown rot is essential. The removal of mummified fruits and infected branches reduces disease pressure. Avoiding waterlogging and ensuring good ventilation of the crown improves overall health.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Prunus avium.
• CABI Crop Compendium – Prunus avium.
• Webster, A. D., & Looney, N. E. (1996). Cherries: Crop Physiology, Production and Uses. CABI Publishing.
• Jackson, J. E. (2003). The Biology of Apples and Pears (chapters relevant to Prunus). Cambridge University Press.
• Flachowsky, H. et al. (2012). Advances in Cherry Breeding and Genetics. Acta Horticulturae.