PHYLOGENETIC AND MOLECULAR TAXONOMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF 'SPURIOUS' ISOLATES OF ERWINIA AMYLOVORA, THE FIRE BLIGHT BACTERIUM

Abstract

Erwinia amylovora, the bacterium recognized as being the sole causative agent of fire blight, is considered to be the oldest and most destructive microorganism ever to infect deciduous fruit trees in the United States and around the world. Although many records detail the devastating pathological phenotypes elicited by this bacterium, there have been few studies conducted to better understand the genetic and evolutionary relationships shared among its strains. These limited molecular genetic and biochemical data have offered little insight where perplexing considerations such as the disease cycle, pathogen identification, targeted treatment, and inconsistent host-parasite interactions are concerned.