Fruit yields may be decreased by 40 to 50 percent, depending on conditions. Symptoms first appear on only one or a few branches in the first year. The following year, other branches may show symptoms while the original branch may not. Symptoms appear in acute or shock years, then commonly disappear. Green fruit may show arcs and rings.
Leaves unfolding later in the season often have no symptoms.
Terminal and lateral shoots are often irregular in length, stunted, or die back at growing points. Occasionally, large areas of bark are killed and show gumming. Severely affected limbs are more susceptible to winter damage. Movement of virus in the orchard occurs through transmission by pollen to seed and to pollinated plants. The virus spreads especially rapidly in sour cherry.