Fire Blight on Pear

Devastating bacterial disease that can kill trees rapidly. Most severe in warm wet springs.

Fire Blight on pear

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Symptoms

Wilted shoots with characteristic shepherd's crook
Blackened blossoms and twigs
Cankers on branches with bacterial ooze

Controls

Plant resistant varieties (Liberty, Enterprise for apple; Magness, Moonglow for pear)
Streptomycin during bloom (commercial only)
Prompt pruning of strikes back to healthy wood
Disinfect tools between cuts