Fire blight primarily affects which plant group?

Fire blight primarily affects which plant group?

• A. Roses
• B. Pine trees
• C. Apple and pear trees
• D. Grasses

Answer: (C)

Fire blight is a bacterial disease that primarily affects apple and pear trees. It targets pome fruits in the Rosaceae family, causing shoots and blossoms to wilt and turn black with a scorched appearance. The infection thrives in warm, wet springs and spreads by rain splash and insects; the pathogen overwinters in cankers on branches and can infect pruning wounds. While other plants exist where different pathogens cause problems, fire blight is not a common issue for pine trees or grasses, making apple and pear trees the main hosts in typical landscapes and orchards.

Fire blight is a bacterial disease that primarily affects apple and pear trees. It targets pome fruits in the Rosaceae family, causing shoots and blossoms to wilt and turn black with a scorched appearance. The infection thrives in warm, wet springs and spreads by rain splash and insects; the pathogen overwinters in cankers on branches and can infect pruning wounds. While other plants exist where different pathogens cause problems, fire blight is not a common issue for pine trees or grasses, making apple and pear trees the main hosts in typical landscapes and orchards.