Biological control studies on fire blight caused by erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winslow Etal.

A total of 250 candidate bacterial antagonist strains were isolated from leaves, shoots and blossoms of apple and pear trees established in Adana, lçel, Kahramanmara and Nigde provinces. The first selection of strains was made on King B and Immature Pear Fruits to determine their in vitro antagonistic activity. According to tests, 9 Strains showed antagonistic activity against fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora. Strains were also tested on shoots of Pyrus communis cv. Deveci and Pyracantha sp. to determine in vivo antagonism under greenhouse conditions. According to test on pear shoots 6 strains suppressed to E,-winia amylovora as Erwinia herbicola (GSPB 450) best known antagonist of fire blight and antibiotic Streptomycin sulphate (200 PPM)