EFFECT OF INCREASED EPIPHYTIC POPULATION ON REDUCTION OF FIRE BLIGHT (ERWINIA AMYLOVORA) INFECTION ON APPLE TREES

Fire blight is a limiting factor for organic apple production. The use of antibiotics is not allowed in organic systems. The use of an innocuous micro-organism consortium including bacteria like Pseudomonas fluorescens and Lactobacillus acidophilus, combined with yeast Saccharomyces boullardii and Candida utilis, is discussed as an alternative management for the disease. The spray application of the living consortium on trees, especially on flowers or pruning wounds, reduced infection. The enhancing action of the consortium to increase the competition for space and nutrients is demonstrated. Experiments in vitro and in vivo demonstrated good disease control.