Blights (other)

The host range is extensive, including apple, pear, quince, hawthorn, and mountain ash. The bacteria infect the tree by entering through the blossoms, natural pores (stomata), or wounds caused by hail, insects, or pruning activities. Once inside, the pathogen moves systemically through the vascular tissues.

Symptoms typically manifest as blighted, blackened blossoms and shriveled shoots that curl into a characteristic shepherd's crook shape. During humid conditions, infected bark tissue often oozes a milky or amber-colored bacterial exudate. As the disease progresses, cankers develop on limbs and the trunk, eventually leading to bark necrosis and limb death.

The development of fire blight is highly dependent on environmental conditions, particularly warm and rainy weather during the bloom period. The pathogen is disseminated by bees, flies, birds, rain splash, and wind. Human activity, such as using unsterilized pruning shears, is a major factor in the internal orchard spread of the bacteria.

Effective management requires an integrated approach:

• Prompt removal and destruction of infected wood at least 30-40 cm below the visible lesion.
• Strict sanitation of all pruning tools between every cut using a 10% bleach or alcohol solution.
• Timely application of copper-based bactericides during the early season.
• Management of insect populations that serve as vectors.
• Planting resistant or less susceptible cultivars to minimize risk.