D.F. Ritchie, Plant Pathologist T.B. Sutton, Plant Pathologist Fire blight is a bacterial disease which can severely damage apples and pears. Blossoms, fruits, fruit spurs, twigs, and branches are affected and sometimes the entire tree may be killed. Symptoms Blossom blight is usually the first symptom observed in the spring.
Blossoms appear water-soaked, wilted, shriveled and finally turn brown to black.
Many of the scab immune cultivars have been evaluated at three locations in North Carolina over the past five years. Twig and leaf blight symptoms are similar to those of blossom blight. Blighted twigs and watersprouts wilt at their tips giving the appearance of a shepherd's crook. Fruit blight generally occurs in immature fruits. The fruit shrivels, becomes mummified and remains attached to the branch.