1/17/2024 0 Comments Fire blight on bradford pear trees![]() calleryana cultivars will not be killed by fire blight within a few years. Unlike susceptible pears such as ‘Bartlett’, most P. ![]() Unfortunately, conditions during the spring of 2010 were ideal for development of this disease, and we have some trees on the campus at MU on which nearly every branch tip has been affected. There has, for example, been a steady increase in the incidence of fire blight, even on cultivars previously considered resistant. We're not implying the landscaping company you worked with intentionally misled anyone perhaps they are not well-versed in the invasive potential of the species at large or don't realize the MDA regulation applies to every member of that species.A MEG article in the April 2009 issue pointed out some problems observed with ornamental pears (Pyrus calleryana) over the past several years. It's unfortunate that some garden centers or landscapers are apparently still selling them, but so far Maryland has not regulated them strictly enough to completely prohibit their sale. However, to our knowledge, none are reliably non-invasive and all pose enough risk to cause ecological harm that they should not be planted. Technically, 'Bradford' is only one specific cultivar in a group of a dozen or so cultivars that belong to the Callery Pear species. The name Bradford Pear has become synonymous with Callery Pear, probably because the "Bradford" name is more familiar to gardeners as one of the original variety names compared to "Callery" (which derives from the species name, Pyrus calleryana). ![]() Even if a single cultivar by itself is purportedly seedless, it won't remain so when exposed to the pollen of another variety (or it can pollinate others that will then set seed and be able to spread). States that have banned Callery Pear outright have not made exceptions for particular cultivars, and we have found no reputable reference stating that 'Cleveland' has sterile fruits or flowers. If any of the pears decline in future years, though, we suggest replacement with another tree species instead of treatment. of Agriculture has regulated their sale such that landscapers and garden centers are required to inform consumers that this species is ecologically damaging and to consider alternatives. Since this appears to be a young tree and it sounds like you have several of them, we realize the cost and hassle of replacement may not be feasible or appealing. It's not yet a prohibited species, but the MD Dept. The web page about Fire Blight that Emily linked to presents the symptoms to look for.įlowering pear (sometimes called "Bradford" pear, even though 'Bradford' is only one variety in the group) is an invasive species and we discourage gardeners from growing them. We don't see symptoms of Fire Blight in the photos, but since pears are vulnerable to this bacterial disease, it's possible there is some overlap and both pathogens are present at once. ![]() While rust doesn't typically kill its host, the symptoms (if infections are severe) can be prominent and recurring every year. Treatment would need to begin early in the spring, but fungicides are not foolproof so infection might still occur, and their use could put pollinators or other organisms at risk. This means that no fungicide applied now will have any effect. In spring, spores made on junipers infect pears to complete the cycle. Rusts are unusual in that they spend part of their life cycle in another plant entirely (junipers, in this case, like our native wild Eastern Redcedar) so the spores being made on the pear now (visible as those pinkish-orange growths on the fruit or under leaves) are moving back onto juniper and won't re-infect the pear. The symptoms indicate rust, a fungal disease that is quite common and widespread, with pear being one of several host plants it can infect.
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