Heat treatment against Erwinia amylovora
Preliminary studies were carried out on thermotherapy of Erwinia amylovora (EPPO A2 list). Ten E. amylovora strains of different origins were subjected in vitro to temperatures > 30° C. The bacterial population decreased rapidly at temperatures > 30° C and was totally eliminated after 23 h of 40° C.
The thermal treatment of infected plants reduced the bacterial numbers and, in some cases, eliminated the pathogen completely at temperatures of 38-40° C.
First plant lethal effects were observed after 5 d of 38° C and 95% RH.
Sources
Keck, M.; Chartier, R.; Zislavsky, W.; Paulin, J.P. (1990) [First studies on thermotherapy of Erwinia amylovora infections.]
Pflanzenschutzberichte 51, 36-39 [in German].