Causes of chlorosis are wide-ranging. Here’s the list from Wikipedia, with my [notes] added:
- a specific mineral deficiency in the soil, such as iron, magnesium, or zinc
- deficient nitrogen and/or proteins
- a soil pH at which minerals become unavailable for absorption by the roots
- poor drainage (waterlogged roots) [Not likely in this case.]
- damaged and/or compacted roots [Not likely in this case.]
- pesticides and particularly herbicides may cause chlorosis, both to target weeds and occasionally to the crop being treated. [Not likely in this case due to location.]
- exposure to sulfur dioxide [Possible in Pittsburgh but not likely in this case.]
- ozone injury to sensitive plants [Not likely in this case.]
- presence of any number of bacterial pathogens, for instance, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis that causes complete chlorosis on Asteraceae.
Dear Dr. Saber Avestan ,
Please write the cultivar and check if there was any insect, such as black aphid (Myzus cerasi), on the plants.
Check if there are any “witches’ brooms” on branches.
They're a proliferation of non-fruit-bearing shoots on branch tips, generally fan-shaped, which gives the appearance of a broom.
Check if there is any fungus or mold growing on the trunk, in particular Chrondrostereum purpureum.
The curling of the leaf can be cause by excesses as well as deficiencies.
For instance an accumulation of nitrogen or chlorine. Soil analysis is required to hypothesise them. This seems like the best lead.
If there was damage at the roots, we would see the plant wilt.
I doubt it could be Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis, because distinguishing feature of Pst diseased plants is the development of apical chlorosis along the midrib, often accompanied by stunting. The chlorosis seems to be interveinal and spreading from the edges inward. Additionally, I don't know of any reported case in Rosaceae.
I could even argue that what is observed is not even chlorosis, because it's a white/silver colour, indicating that all pigment are being digested.
If the plants was under oxidative stress, we would observe a yellow colour due to the accumulation of carotenoids.
Silver Leaf Fungal Disease generally causes lesions on the edges, more twisted leaves and a more widespread silvery colour.
Cherry Crinkle Disease would cause clear edges lesions and irregular margins.
I do agree it is a mineral deffciency. I do agree it could be an aphid. If it has this white colour,could it be frost?
I’ve seen this before on black cherry, Prunus serotonin. It’s been associated with herbicide drift, non-leathal phytotoxicity. I recall simiazine was implicated which is a pre-emergent. Could your cherries have been exposed to herbicide?
Dear professors and researchers,
Thank you for your useful and effective comets. Unfortunately, these symptoms have been observed in several different areas and none of them have used herbicides in their gardens. I do not think the lack of nutrients is a sudden loss of chlorophyll. Of course, leaf analysis has not been done. But in cultivars that have black fruits, a native cultivar of sweet cherries (Sia Mashhad) and several other cultivars have been seen. No aphids were observed on the trees. However, a small number of spider mites were observed in one area.
Best regards,
S.Avestan
Hi dear Dr. Avestan,
The presence of white spots on the cherry leaves is most likely a mycoplasma disease, but the tubularity of the leaves has another cause. The most common cause can be phytophthora crown rot due to irregular irrigation and waterlogging conditions. It is recommended to remove the soil around the crown and remove a part of the crown skin. If the tissue under the crown skin was brown, it is the crown rot that causes the leaves to become tubular and the branches to dry out gradually.
Best wishes
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