Induction of resistance to fire blight in apple (Erwinia amylovora)

Apple genotypes show different levels of resistance to fire blight caused by the bacterium E. amylovora. This resistance is considered to be polygenic, thus relying on a number of defense mechanisms. On the assumption that in susceptible genotypes these defenses may be present but not activated during the infection process, we attempted their induction by various abiotic and biotic elicitors. Two kinds of experiments were performed in the greenhouse and in the orchard: i) evaluation after controlled inoculation of the level of protection conferred to the plant by each elicitor and ii) investigation of various defense responses potentially involved in the protection. Results showed that some elicitors provided a level of overall protection of about 50% in the orchard while higher levels may be obtained on seedlings in the greenhouse. The comparison of some defense responses in protected and unprotected treated plants showed that i) elicitation of defense is not necessarily associated with control of fire blight and that ii) some responses at least may be associated with the observed protection.