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Fire blight has been the most devastating disease of commercial
pear production in the eastern United States. This disease will
continue to threaten the industry because highly susceptible rootstocks
and cultivars are continuously being planted and the recent development
of streptomycin-resistant strains of the pathogen found in the
east.
 Symptoms and Disease Development
The development of fire
blight on pear is nearly the same as that on apples, but pears
are more susceptible. This is because pears have more flowers
per spur than apples. Pear flowers are more susceptible because
they tend to remain open for a longer period of time.
Disease
Management
Plant blight-resistant pear
cultivars. Bartlett, Bosc, D'Anjou, and Clapp's Favorite are highly
susceptible to fire blight. Magness, Moonglow, Maxine, and Seckel
are highly resistant. All varieties of Asian pears are moderately
to highly susceptible to fire blight with the exception of Seuri,
Shinko, and Singo. Additional blight-tolerant cultivars released
from the Harrow Station in Canada are Harrow Sweet and Harrow
Delight.
For more information on
fire blight, see the fire blight of apple and pear
fact sheet.
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