Fire blight is a dangerous plant disease caused by bacteria. It endangers the vitality of the tree, leads to significant yield losses and, in the case of severe infestation, can cause a tree to die.
Can an apple tree get fire blight?
Since fire blight affects plants from the large rose family, which includes theapple tree, fruit trees aresusceptible to this plant disease. Since the pathogen can also overwinter on them, fire blight is even considered one of the most threatening apple diseases.
How do I know if the apple tree has fire blight?
Since the main route of infection is theflowers, thesewill initially wiltandwill change colorlaterdark brown. The bacterium migrates via the flower stalk into shoots, branches and the trunk. You can finally recognize advanced fire blight by the almost black, crutch-like curved shoot tips.
Another feature is the sticky bacterial mucous droplets that emerge from the branches in warm, humid weather. These are whitish or colored like light amber. Affected areas of bark sink in and a clear boundary line appears between diseased and he althy tissue.
Why is the damage caused by fire blight so massive?
ThebacteriumErwinia amylovora migrates through thechannelsandclogs thesewithEliminations. Due to the reduced water transport, the leaf veins initially turn brown, later the fresh and woody shoots wither and their tips curve downwards in a hook shape.
Since the disease usually begins on the flowers, pollinating bees and bumblebees become the main distributors in spring. The escaping bacterial slime is very dangerous for he althy plants as it is spread over large areas by raindrops, wind, insects and birds.
How can I fight fire blight on apples?
Unfortunately there are currentlyno approved preparationsfor thehome garden,with which fire blight can be cured. Therefore, check the apple tree for the first signs of the disease as soon as the flowering period begins. If you notice an infestation, you should proceed as follows:
- Cut the affected shoots back deep into the he althy wood.
- Disinfect all tools thoroughly afterwards.
- If permitted, burn diseased plant parts directly or dispose of them with household waste.
- Severely infested apple trees must be cleared.
How can I prevent fire blight on an apple tree?
The same applies to fire blight: Thebest preventionis theplantingofresistant varieties. These are, for example:
- Pilot,
- Bell apple,
- Jakob Fischer,
- Beautiful from Boskoop,
- Retina.
You should also combat all leaf-sucking insects such as aphids with ecological measures, because if the animals come into contact with the bacterial slime, they transmit the disease to other parts of the plant.
Is fire blight a reportable plant disease?
Fire blight is anotifiable quarantine disease You must therefore report diseased trees to the responsible municipality, the district office or the state agricultural office. The authority will take samples from the infected apple tree, have them examined in the laboratory and coordinate with you on how to proceed.
Tip
Many plants can get fire blight
Fire blight has a very large host plant circle. In addition to cultivated and wild apple trees, these also include pears, quinces, hawthorns, hawthorns, firethorns, rowanberries, mulberries, cotoneasters and rock pears. If you suspect fire blight on your apple tree, you should take a close look at all of these rose plants.
