Fire Blight Preventative For Apples And Pears OK’d
February 2, 2012 
Blossom Protect was approved this week by the EPA as a biopesticide for the control of fire blight in pome fruit orchards. Blossom Protect is approved for use in organic production. Developed by Bio-ferm GmbH in Tulln, Austria, and exclusively marketed in the U.S. by Westbridge Agricultural Products of Vista, CA, Blossom Protect is a highly effective fire blight preventative for use on apple and pear trees.
“Four years of trials in the U.S. and several years of actual grower use in Europe have proven the effectiveness of Blossom Protect in controlling fire blight, either used by itself or as a tool with other products in a program of Integrated Pest Management,” said Larry Parker, director of Westbridge Research and Development.
Blossom Protect works by introducing highly competitive microorganisms on to the fruit blossom which block the fire blight pathogen from colonizing the apple and pear blossom. “Blossom Protect is not an antibiotic and, as such, will be an important and effective tool for the prevention of fire blight,” said Parker.
Fire blight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora and is one of the most damaging and pervasive diseases in pome fruit. The traditional method of combating this disease has been the use of antibiotics, but their extensive use has resulted in antibiotic resistant strains of E. amylovora. Antibiotic resistance has become a major concern to growers. In contrast, Blossom Protect acts as a competitive antagonist and does not directly attack the fire blight pathogen. There is no risk of the E. amylovora developing resistance even with frequent applications. It leaves no chemical residue, is safe for humans and animals, and is harmless to bees and beneficials.
“Westbridge is pleased to be the exclusive distributor of Blossom Protect,” said Tina Koenemann, president of Westbridge. “It confirms Westbridge’s commitment to bringing premier products to market to meet the important needs of growers in America.”
Westbridge is a manufacturer and distributor of liquid fertilizers and crop protection products. From its certified Organic BioLink® and TRIGGRR® to EarthTrend® and SUNburst® products, Westbridge provides a complete portfolio of products to meet the grower’s crop production and crop protection needs.
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