[Excerpt] Erwinia amylovora, a major pathogenic bacterium affecting pome fruit plants, causes fire blight, a devastating disease of pears and apples (1 ]. lnfection typically begins in flowers and leads to the blackening of leaves, stems, and immature fruits (2). E. amy/ovora is widespread in North and Central America and Europe and spreads through insects, rain, wind, infected propagating material, and non-dis...