TITLE:
Fire Blight Disease Caused by Erwinia amylovora on Rosaceae Plants in Kyrgyzstan and Biological Agents to Control This Disease
AUTHORS:
Tinatin Doolotkeldieva, Saykal Bobusheva
KEYWORDS:
Biological Control Agents, Fire Blight, Erwinia amylovora, Antagonistic Bacteria
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.6 No.11,
September
14,
2016
ABSTRACT: Erwinia amylovora species were isolated from the blossoms, exudates,
infected fruits, leaves and bent branches of diseased apple, pear and hawthorn
trees, selected in the Chy, Osh and Jalal
Abad regions. Biochemical and pathogenicity tests, alongside PCR
analyses, were conducted to identify the local isolates of Erwinia amylovora. The alternative antagonistic microorganisms
which combat bacterium E. amylovora were tested within in vitro and in vivo conditions.
The results revealed the ability of Streptomyces antagonistic bacteria to decrease fire blight severity on pear and apple
trees during the first stage of the fire blight disease in leaf tissues. Streptomyces strain C1-4 suppressed E. amylovora disease symptoms in the leaf tissues and excised apple and pear shoots. The
incidence of fire blight on leaves was reduced by about 70% with two
applications of bacterial antagonists. Further studies at different locations
in Kyrgyzstan, using large scale application, would allow for stronger
recommendations to be made, including studies and recommendations on their
ability to prevent disease and to use them as main components in an integrated
pest management program.