![]() Bacterial cankers form when the infection progresses into woody tissue. Fruit eventually shrivel and may remain attached through the winter. Droplets of ooze are common on infected fruit. Fruit of either tree may also become infected, beginning with a brown firm rot that rapidly encompasses the entire fruit. Apple infections usually result in death of flower clusters. Infection of pear flowers or terminals may progress into larger branches and even into the trunk, causing death. ![]() Pear trees are generally more susceptible to fire blight than apple trees. This ooze is amber colored on infected leaves, flowers, and young terminals. Small droplets of bacterial ooze are a diagnostic sign of fire blight. Infected ends of shoots (terminals) often exhibit a typical curling on the end, called a “shepherd’s crook”. Blighted leaves remain attached to the tree through much of the dormant season. Initial infection causes wilt infected tissue and tissue outward of infections turns black on pear and brown on apple. Highly susceptible trees may be killed in a single season.įire blight symptoms are easily recognized by the scorched appearance of leaves, blossoms, and young terminal shoots. Vigilant scouting for the disease combined with careful pruning techniques are recommended to manage fire blight in pear and apple trees.įire blight can not only destroy the current season’s crop, but may damage the structure of the tree and reduce subsequent production. Streptomycin (Fertilome Fire Blight Spray) is available for homeowner use. Pear and apple are most susceptible at flowering, but actively growing shoots can be infected as well.Ĭarefully pruning to remove infected wood in combination with the use of agricultural antibiotics are the most effective means to manage fire blight. It can be spread by insects, contaminated pruning tools, wind and rain-splash. ![]() Fire blight is a bacterial disease primarily affecting pears and apples.
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