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pear fruit rot #866742

Asked May 02, 2024, 10:20 AM EDT

Last season all pears on my tree rotted at an early stage of development. It is happening again this year. What is the cause and is there a solution? Thank you.

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi,

These symptoms look consistent with Fireblight. If these are the same as last year you may have noticed some shepherd's crooking and dieback of shoots and twigs (see page 2 on this link for photo examples). 

Our page with more information as well : https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fire-blight-disease-trees/

It is too late this year for treatment to help, but you can spray with a copper fungicide before the buds open and then at regular intervals per the label directions for next year. You can refer to the Virginia Tech home fruit guide spray schedule for guidance. Pears start on page 14 but there are helpful descriptions of recommended chemical prevention and treatment in the beginning of the publication as well. 

This year, you can prune out the infected tips and branches to help control the spread and follow directions on the link to locate and remove them in the winter.

Alternatively this is also what a damaging frost in the early seasons can do to the buds or fruitlets but if its occurred multiply years in a row, most likely it is fireblight. 

Let us know if you have further questions.

Emily

Thanks very much for the information. I will treat accordingly.
Paul
The Question Asker Replied May 03, 2024, 5:48 PM EDT

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