Fire Blight Tool Has New U.S. Distributor

By Growing Produce Staff|January 17, 2012

Westbridge Agricultural Products of Vista, CA, and Bio-ferm of Tulln, Austria, have announced a new partnership that grants Westbridge exclusive U.S. distribution rights of Blossom Protect, a biological product used to combat fire blight infection in pome fruit. Blossom Protect is allowed for use in certified organic pome fruit production. and EPA approval for this product is pending.

Fire blight, which is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is one of the most damaging and pervasive diseases in pome fruit. This highly infectious bacterial disease typically attacks the tree through blossoms during the flowering period and can rapidly damage whole trees and orchards if not preventatively protected.

Blossom Protect contains highly efficient microorganisms which block the fire blight pathogen from colonizing the blossom. In four years of university testing in the U.S., Blossom Protect has shown significant efficacy in the reduction of fire blight on apples and pears. This biopesticide works through natural competition for space and nutrients between the pathogen and antagonists on the blossom. There is no risk of developing resistance, even with frequent applications, as Blossom Protect acts competitively and does not attack the metabolism of bacterial pathogens.