Erwinia amylovora: the molecular basis of fireblight disease
Julie A. Eastgate
Biological Sciences, School of Engineering and Science, University of
Paisley, Paisley, Scotland, PA1 2EB, UK
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| Taxonomy: |
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; g subdivision; order Entero-bacteriales;
family Enterobacteriaceae; genus Erwinia. |
| Microbiological properties: |
Gram-negative, motile rods. |
| Related species: |
E. carotovora (soft-rot diseases) , E.
chrysanthemi (soft-rot diseases) , E. (Pantoea) stewartii
(Stewart's wilt of corn) , E. (Pantoea) herbicola (epiphyte). |
| Host range: |
Affects rosaceous plants, primarily members of the Pomoideae.
Economically important hosts are apple and pear. The commercial
implications of fireblight outbreaks are aggravated
by the limited effectiveness of current control measures. |
| Disease symptoms: |
E. amylovora infection is characterized by water
soaking of infected tissue, followed by wilting and tissue necrosis.
Necrosis gives tissue a scorched, blackened appearance, giving rise to the
name fireblight. Symptoms are often localized to blossom bracts or young
shoots but, in highly susceptible hosts, can spread systemically resulting
in death of the entire tree. Infections can vary in severity depending on
climatic conditions and host susceptibility. |
| Useful web site: |
http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca |
|
 The
apple seedling model of E. amylovora infection. Symptom development
in 3-week-old apple seedlings 5 days after inoculation with (left) buffer
or (right) E. amylovora. Browning and wilting can be seen in the
shoot and upper leaves of the infected plant.
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