A serious bacterial disease of plants of the rose family, especially fruit trees, giving the leaves a scorched appearance.
The bacterium is the Gram-negative Erwinia amylovora
‘Orchardists are concerned the bacterial disease fireblight could be imported into Australia, with devastating effects on the local fruit industry.’
‘Australia currently bans the import of New Zealand apples because it fears the fireblight bacterial disease.’
‘Australian growers remain concerned about the risk of the disease fireblight being introduced to their orchards.’
‘Growers fear imported apples may bring in the disease fireblight.’
‘In the latter case, growers will be much cheered by the news yesterday that Japan is finally to end its non-tariff barrier to our fruit by dropping the pretence that it poses a fireblight risk to their own.’
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