Erwinia amylovora established in Egypt
Erwinia amylovora (EPPO A2 organism) is now established in Egypt. To control the disease streptomycin has been applied in orchards of several provinces which resulted in a 70% fireblight reduction in the treated orchards. However, strains of E. amylovora resistant to streptomycin have been increasingly found.
Experiments were conducted to test Bacillus subtilis strains, which showed in vitro activity against the fireblight bacterium, but in in planta experiments B. subtilis failed to control the disease.
Sources
El-Goorani, M.A.; Hassanein, F.M. (1991) The effect of Bacillus subtilis on in vitro growth and pathogenicity of Erwinia amylovora.
Journal of Phytopathology 133, 134-138.