FIRE BLIGHT IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Erwinia amylovora was recorded for the first time in Israel in 1985. The infected orchards are scattered in regions of great differences of altitudes (10–750 m) and rainfall (100–800 mm). Erwinia amylovora was reported from Egypt in 1962 but fire blight presence in the Eastern Mediterranean countries was not reported until 1982, when severe outbreaks of it occurred on pears in the Nile Delta.

In 1984 it was noted on the island of Cyprus.
In Greece it was recorded in 1985 on the island of Creta and in 1986 on the island of Lesbos, not far from Turkish mainland.
In 1987 it occurred in some areas of mainland Greece and in Turkey.
The intensity and the widespread occurrence of fire blight on pear, apple and quince in the area indicates that the new pathogen is well established and not an occasional invader.
Moreover, infections of the many wild host plants scattered in the area can be expected to increase the intensity of epidemics of fire blight in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The wide host range and favorable weather conditions prevailing during blooming result in constant inoculum production and threatens to infect crop plants in other Mediterranean and European countries.

V International Symposium on Pear Growing

E. Shabi

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.256.22