fire-blight An important disease which affects many trees of the Rosaceae (e.g. apple, pear, and hawthorn). Infected trees have the appearance of having been scorched by fire; the tree may be killed within months. The causal agent is the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. The disease occurs in N. America and in many parts of Europe; it is notifiable in Britain.

fire-blight An important disease which affects many trees of the Rosaceae (e.g. apple, pear, and hawthorn). Infected trees have the appearance of having been scorched by fire; the tree may be killed within months. The causal agent is the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. The disease occurs in North America and in many parts of Europe; it is notifiable in Britain.