Ornamental pear tree owners can expect their trees to bounce back later in the year. In the spring, the disease usually first shows up as blossom blight. Infected blossoms become water-soaked and then turn dark brown. The disease then moves down the fruit stem, causing the area it infects to become water soaked and turn dark green. From the fruit stem, the disease migrates into the leaves of the blighted spur.
Twigs become dark green and oily looking when infected.
In contrast, the disease turns apple tree leaves and stems dark brown. Cultural methods involve pruning the infected portion of the stem, four to six inches below the visible symptoms. Pruning shears should be disinfected in a 10 percent bleach solution to prevent spreading the disease to uninfected trees. Philley warned excessive pruning can promote succulent growth that is highly susceptible to new infection. Excessive pruning can also cause the tree to become misshapen.