Cleveland Select Pear Trees: Fire Blight Diagnosis and Management

Two Cleveland Select pears in central Illinois show progressive branch dieback and thinning over two years.

Diagnosis: Fire Blight

Bacterial disease (Erwinia amylovora) favored by warm, wet springs. Symptoms: blossom blight, shepherd's crook twigs, scorched leaves clinging to stems, cankers with amber ooze.

Control—Integrated Approach

• Sanitation: Prune infected limbs 8–12 inches below damage in late winter; sterilize tools (70% alcohol) between cuts.
• Chemical: Streptomycin (Agri-Strep) sprays during bloom only (3–4 applications).
• Cultural: Avoid excess nitrogen; remove suckers; use balanced fertilizer.
• Resistance: Choose resistant varieties for new plantings.

Complex; arborist assistance recommended.