Field Survey and Morphological Identification of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Biocenosis and Diseases at the ITAFV Experimental Station of Benchicao (Médéa)

Abstract

This study was conducted in a sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) orchard located in the Benchicao region (Médéa Province, Algeria) to inventory the main pests and pathogens associated with this crop. The approach combined field entomological monitoring with a phytopathological survey based on the morphological identification of symptoms and microorganisms. Sampling was carried out from late March to mid-May 2026 using yellow hanging traps and white pitfall traps installed in five orchard stations (North, South, East, West, and Center). A total of 997 arthropods belonging to eleven taxonomic orders were recorded. Diptera (45.34%), Hymenoptera (34.40%), and Coleoptera (12.24%) were the dominant groups, whereas the remaining orders were represented by relatively few individuals. Spatial variations in arthropod abundance were observed among the sampling stations, probably reflecting differences in local microclimatic conditions and habitat characteristics. The occurrence of pollinators, predators, and decomposers highlights the biological diversity and ecological complexity of the orchard ecosystem. The phytopathological survey led to the identification of the fungal genera Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Colletotrichum, as well as a bacterial isolate tentatively assigned to the genus Pseudomonas. These microorganisms are known to be associated with several sweet cherry diseases, including leaf spots, fruit rots, anthracnose, and bacterial canker. The findings provide baseline information on the biocenosis associated with sweet cherry orchards in the Benchicao region and may contribute to the development of future monitoring and integrated pest and disease management strategies