CREATING NEXT-GEN CONTROLS FOR FIRE BLIGHT CANKERS, BLOSSOM AND SHOOT BLIGHT WITH COPPER, PGR-S, PLANT ACTIVATORS AND ANTI-BIOFILM ENZYMES.

The project primary goals are to improve and optimize efficacy of new dormant spray programs for eradication of Ea in overwintering fire blight cankers on pear and apple, determine the efficacy of one plant extract for prevention of shoot blight and fire blight cankers on pear and apple, and compare it to known SARs and PGRs, and test new chemically engineered antimicrobial enzymes to prevent blossom blight and shoot blight in field conditions of Virginia and Oregon.1. Quantify reduction/eradication of Ea surviving in fire blight cankers as primary inoculum sources with improved spray programs of dormant copper.2. Determine and optimize new spray programs with alternative SARs and PGRs to control shoot blight and prevent development of fire blight cankers on apple and pear trunk and limb wood.3. Determine mechanisms of action and optimize new spray programs of anti-biofilm enzymes (ABE) to control blossom and shoot blight and prevent apple and pear fruit and tree losses.4. Develop and disseminate bilingual extension programs for new optimized management programs and materials for all fire blight phases - cankers, blossom blight, and shoot blight.