The Incessant Battle Against Fire Blight in Pears: 30 Years of Challenges and Successes in Managing the Disease in Israel.

Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is the most destructive disease of pears and other pome fruit trees worldwide. The disease was first detected in Israel in 1985, and in the 30 years since, the intensity of fire blight epidemics has varied markedly. During this time, there were two national pandemics: the first between 1994 and 1996 and the second in 2010.