SummaryIn central Italy,Pseudomonas syringaepv.morsprunorumwas isolated from wild cherries (Pranus avium) that had been planted for timber production. Biochemical tests were consistent with those characterizing the pathovar. Pathogenicity tests yielded necrotic lesions, shot holes on the leaves and decoloration of the tissues beneath the twig periderm, but no symptoms on inoculated lilac and pear leaves. In addition, whole‐cell protein profiles of the isolates and reference strains were remarkably homogenous when analysed by cluster analysis. All isolates were negative in ice‐nucleation activity and in antifungal‐compound production. The main symptoms observed in the field were cankers on twigs, branches and trunks, as well as withering of the shoots. Evalution of the field susceptibility of 18 clones indicated that the following selections must be considered susceptible to the pathogen: Montemignaio, Piantata Catenaia, Puzzolo, Raggiolo, Pozzacce 2, Pozzacce I, Paradision. Alpe 2 seems to be less suscep