01/17/04 Fireblight and streptomyecin, Part one

01/17/04 Fireblight and streptomyecin, Part one

You don't have to tell Northwest apple and pear growers just how devastating fireblight can be to their crops. But it's not like horticultural researchers haven't spent the last few decades studying the disease, and trying to find a way to eradicate it. Just ask U.S.D.A. Plant Pathologist John Norelli. He says there are three ways currently for growers to take on fireblight. NORELLI: One way is by cultural practices that growers might use, and particularly, pruning out diseased portions of the tree. A second method control is using varieties that can naturally resist the disease. And in addition, we can use chemicals or other spray materials to try to prevent infection. And since about 1950, the anti-biotic steptomyecin has been one of the main means use to control this disease. But Norelli says the problem with steptomyecin is its application as an anti-biotic to fight disease in humans. NORELLI: There's concerns from (a) health point of view, that we could be developing resistance in bacteria that could be spread to human pathogens. So instead of healthier fruit, it could mean breaking down human immune systems to be more susceptible to illness. So it is up to scientists like Norelli to study how to solve that dilemma. Some potential options are discussed on our next program.
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