SASKATOON (Staff) – Melfort and Kindersley, Sask., are experiencing serious outbreaks of the tree disease, fire blight.
Conditions are ripe for the bacterial disease that affects plants of the rose family. High humidity combined with temperatures above 20¡C create an ideal breeding ground for the disease, said Russell Friesen of the horticultural information service at the University of Saskatchewan.
Mountain ash and cotoneaster are most susceptible to the disease. Infected leaves and twigs turn a reddish brown color, but remain on the tree.
The bacteria is spread by wind, rain, insects and pruning tools. Unfortunately pruning is the best way to control fire blight. Cuts should be made at least 25 centimetres from the last sign of infection to ensure the clippers are not contaminated.
Fire blight can also infect apples, crabapples, pears, raspberries and saskatoons.
