Bacteria
(Erwinia amylovora) generally cause blights during wet weather in early spring
when buds are breaking. Fireblight of
crabapples and
mountain ash is favored
by warm spring temperatures. In wet spring weather cankers formed during
previous infections ooze droplets of bacteria. The bacteria are splashed
by rain and blown by winds or insects may carry it to nearby plants.
The sudden death of flowers buds leaves young
fruit and succulent shoots characterizes blight
diseases. The blighted plant tissue is black and
shriveled as though they were scorched with fire. Shoots
often have a bent drooped tip resembling a shepherd's
crook.
Plant resistant varieties. Avoid using high
nitrogenfertilizers on susceptible cultivars.
Only
fungicides containing copper may be effective against bacterial blights
and bacterial disease but copper may burn foliage.
Note: We
have provided some general information and
observations on this topic aimed at the home
gardener. Before you take
any serious action in your landscape, check
with your state's land grant university's
Cooperative
Extension
Service for the most current,
appropriate, localized recommendations.
Common Home Landscape Plants
Susceptible to Fireblight:
