Abstract
The blossom blight phase of fire blight disease on pear trees, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora (Burrill), was typically managed by applying the antibiotic, streptomycin sulfate and copper, to trees during blossom. Biological control agents of fire blight can be achieved by applying nonpathogenic bacteria, viz. Bacillus subtilis or Pantoea agglomerans and plant extract, viz. Harmel (Peganum harmala L.) during open flowers as spraying treatments. The objective of this study was to examine the alternative bactericides against bacterium E. amylovora in vitro and in vivo during two seasons (2013-2014) in Al-Gharbia governorate, Egypt. Our results revealed the ability of these antagonistic bacteria and plant extract can decreased fire blight severity on pear trees. Further studies at different locations in Egypt with large scale application would allow us to make stronger recommendations including their ability to prevent disease and used them as main component in integrated pest management program.
Highlights
Pear trees cultivated area in Egypt are 3741 (Ha), with production 66403, according to FAO (2013)
Viz., B. subtilis was the most effective in vitro against E. amylovora compared with P. agglomerans
In the field Treatment of P. agglomerans was the most effective to decreased disease severity and increased fruit set on pear trees, followed by harmel plant extract
Summary
Pear trees cultivated area in Egypt are 3741 (Ha), with production 66403 (tones), according to FAO (2013). E. amylovora (Burrill) Winslow et al (1920), the causal agent of fire blight disease (FBD) on fruit tree of pear was one of the most destructive pathogenic bacteria. In the early 1980s, rainy weather during flowering contributed to an epiphytotic outbreak in Egypt (where it occurred for the first time in 19621964). In Cyprus, it occurred in 1984 and in Israel and Turkey in 1985. Once E. amylovora had established in the triangle Egypt-Cyprus-Israel, it was only a matter of time before it appeared in neighboring countries. From Turkey, it reached Greece (1986) over Crete, and from Greece, it arrived in the SFRY (Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) (Bonn and Van der Zwet, 2000). According to EPPO (2012), E. amylovora is currently present in more than 50 countries in the world.
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