Fire blight

Fire blight

Photo by Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org

  • Infects a range of pome fruit species
  • Damage occurs on leaves, branches, shoots, blossoms and fruit tissue
  • Infection results in tissue death, together with bacterial ooze droplets on infected tissue
  • Infected shoots often bend near the tip to form a ‘shepherd’s crook’ shape
  • Spread with infected plant material and through wind dispersal
  • Establishment of Fire blight would impact market access

High priority pest of: Apples and pears

Scientific name: Erwinia amylovora
EPPRD Category: 2
Life Form: Bacteria

Pest Documents

FS: fact sheet

CP: contingency plan

DP: diagnostic protocol