Distribution of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow et al.) disease in Western Anatolia region in Turkey

Turkey is a country having various climatic conditions at different parts allowing the production of different fruit species. In fact, it is the origin of many cultivated species. Pome fruits are widely distributed in Anatolia (Asian part of Turkey). The number of pear trees is estimated at 3 million, which is 1/5 of the Turkish pear population in Anatolia. Depending on ecogeographcal conditions, up to 600 different pear varieties are locally adapted throughout Anatolia, among which both summer and winter pears exist. In 1985, when fire blight (Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow et al.) first entered the country it started from Central Anatolia. A year later, it was observed in Western Anatolia and spread to all parts of Turkey causing excessive losses in susceptible fruit trees in a short period of time. The study is performed in 1996 and 1997 on local pear varieties present in Aydin, Bahkesir, Canakkale, Denizli, Izmir and Manisa provinces in Western Anatolia to determine the distribution of fire blight disease in the region and the tolerance of different pear varieties under field conditions. As a result, nearly 70 local pear varieties were identified. It was observed that all these varieties show different tolerances to the disease. Generally, late season varieties were more resistant than early or middle season varieties. Besides, it was observed that fire blight disease causes less damage at the higher altitudes.