Fireblight

How to Recognize Blight in Your Trees

Fireblight is a destructive disease that attacks more than 75 different species of plants, all of which are in the Rosaceae family. In Alberta, fireblight is common on: apple, crabapple, pear, mountain ash, hawthorn, Saskatoon, cotoneaster, raspberry, plum, mayday and spirea. Because this is a very infectious disease, it is important that effective control measures be undertaken as soon as possible. A severe outbreak can kill a tree in one year.

The disease usually appears in the spring when the tree is in bloom. Infected blossoms suddenly wilt and turn light to dark brown. Leaves on infected branches become brown and shrivelled and appear to have been scorched by fire. The affected leaves usually remain on the tree well after normal leaf fall. Blackened new growth is often curled at the tip in a shepherd’s crook-like manner.

The surface of smooth-barked branches darkens and cracks usually develop. Infection can spread to older branches and to the trunk where cankers may develop. These cankers are discoloured, slightly sunken and tend to crack at their edges. They may eventually encircle the branch causing all parts above them to die.

Young infected fruits become oily in appearance and exude a clear, milky or amber-coloured ooze. The fruits shrivel, become dark brown in colour and remain attached to the tree.

Fireblight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. The bacteria overwinter in the cankers and in the spring, produce ooze that is spread from tree to tree by bees, other insects and rain. The bacteria enter the plant through blossoms, wounds and natural openings.

Abundant rainfall followed by warm, cloudy weather provides conditions that encourage the development of the disease. Excessive nitrogen fertilization, late-season fertilization, poor soil drainage and overwatering are some of the factors that promote succulent growth which is more susceptible to fireblight.

There is no chemical control for fireblight, but the disease can be managed with proper sanitation and cultural practices.

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