Specific Weather Factors Affecting the Incidence of Fire Blight in Korea from 2020 to 2023

Abstract

Since its initial outbreak in Korea in 2015, fire blight has consistently emerged annually. Fire blight outbreaks usually begin in May, peak in June, and decline in July in Korea. In this study, we analyzed cases that exhibit a distinct pattern of disease occurrence based on yearly weather conditions from 2020 to 2023. In 2020, fire bight disease occurrence began in late May. Although the disease incidence started late by the low temperatures in April, which caused flowering period delayed, the incidence increased significantly due to the high risk of blossom infection. In 2021, the first outbreak began in late April because the flower infection started in early April. In 2022, despite the high blossom infection risk during the flowering period in April and the high incidence of fire blight in May, the incidence decreased sharply from June due to the low rainfall in May. In 2023, due to torrential rains and hail in late June, the incidence of fire blight increased even in July. Considering the weather factors that affect the increase of fire blight disease, it is suggested that control measures to prevent the fire blight infection should be carried out before and after wind-driven rains.