European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) - phytoplasma induces economically important disorders in apricot, Japanese plum and peach and can infect several other Prunus spp. Cacopsylla pruni is the vector of the disease transmitting it in a persistent manner. Several methods are reliable for the detection of the pathogen: (i) greenhouse indexing using peach GF 305; (ii) DAPI method; and (iii) molecular methods (PCR or nested-PCR). Being a phytoplasma disease, it is in practice not curable. Therefore, control is necessarily based on prevention using healthy planting material, which is of basic importance. In areas with low infection pressure the use of healthy plants can be sufficient. In areas with medium or high infection pressure, the control of the vector is necessary. In areas with high natural pressure of ESFY the cultivation of tolerant species (i.e. European plum) instead of sensitive ones (i.e. Japanese plum) is often advisable. In addition plants with induced-resistance (cross protection) can be used especially in already infected areas.