North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Dennis Norton" <dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

Here is some info for Dr. Alves' fire blight problem.  Check this link, http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/pdf/3002.pdf from the Ohio State University Extension website.  If you are unable to download a .pdf file, try this link, http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3002.html.  Here is an excerpt from the article: 

 

"Prune out fire blight cankers and blighted twigs. To decrease the inoculum level for the following season, prune out blighted twigs and cankers during the dormant season. During the dormant season (winter) there is much less chance of spreading bacteria. Branches that are more than half-girdled by cankers should be removed. Cut off blighted twigs by making cuts at least 4 inches below the visible dead wood. Cankers can be cut out of trunks or large branches by removing dead tissue down to wood that appears healthy. If blighted twigs are pruned out during summer, cuts should be made l2 to l5 inches below diseased wood and pruning tools should be disinfested by dipping in a 2:10 solution of household bleach in water after each cut."

 

We operate an orchard with over 11,000 trees in Northern Illinois and are in climate zone 5.  We had a bit of blight this past season and used these recommendations, as we have in the past and lost no trees out of over 100 trees with blight.  I would also recommend the book "Diseases of Tree Fruits in the East" from Michigan State University Extension which is an excellent guide on diseases and their control with very helpful photos.  You can also purchase from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565250109/qid%3D1130890460/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-0015974-0383260.  I hope this helps!

 

 

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard