Sour cherries bruised and bumpy - Ask Extension
I have a large backyard sour cherry tree. I’ve harvested cherries every year for at least 15 years. This year, all the cherries are pitted, bumpy, a...
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Sour cherries bruised and bumpy #874750
Asked June 26, 2024, 9:10 AM EDT
I have a large backyard sour cherry tree. I’ve harvested cherries every year for at least 15 years. This year, all the cherries are pitted, bumpy, and bruised, many with uneven color. I’ve attached a photo. Would you be able to tell me what’s happening to them?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hello Martha,
They look like they've been infected by a fly called spotted wing drosophila (SWD). If it is SWD, the female inserts its eggs by sawing an extremely small hole in the fruit's skin. The larvae are what cause all the damage inside leaving ruined fruit with the bruised and bumpy appearance. Here is more information about SWD.
If you want, you could get a definitive diagnosis by sending a sample to the U of MN Extension Plant Disease Clinic. Here is the link to their website where you'll learn about their services, prices, and how to submit a sample.
Good-luck!
