Apple trees are blooming throughout the Commonwealth. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high.
Risk for infection can be assessed using the Fire Blight Disease Prediction Model. Growers can assess local risk by selecting their county and orchard history. This model incorporates the previous 4 days of weather data plus adds a 7-day forecast for estimating leaf wetness and temperature (thereby estimating risk for bacterial growth and infection). There are 66 Mesonet weather stations throughout Kentucky, thus, weather information for the model is based on data from the closest weather station. For a mobile (phone or tablet) friendly version of this site, visit http://weather.uky.edu/dim.html.
Figure 1: Fire blight risk for Kentucky counties on April 10, 2017.
Remember that apple and pear trees must be in bloom for predictions to be accurate. The map overview presented here indicates fire blight risk as of April 10, 2017 (Figure 1). According to the current assessment, risk is low to marginal across the state due to low humidity during the past several days. A rain event, however, can increase that risk. Growers are encouraged to check the model regularly for the most accurate analyses and county-specific forecasts.
Additional Resources
Information regarding prevention and management of fire blight can be found in:
- Commercial Fruit Pest Management Guide (ID-232)
- Backyard Apple Disease Management Using Cultural Practices (PPFS-FR-T-21)
- Fire blight (PPFS-FR-T-12)
- Fire blight of Apple (Video)
By Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension Plant Pathologist
Kentucky Pest News 