Survey of apple collar and rootstock blight in Serbia

Abstract

Apple production in Serbia is characterized by the introduction of new technologies and the establishment of intensive plantations based on modern systems. In intensive apple production systems, sudden and rapid decay of young apple trees exhibiting collar and rootstock blight symptoms in the first few years after planting is becoming a prevalent issue. However, knip or nursery trees with lateral branches (feathers) on rootstock M.9 i.e. oneto five-year old are most seriously affected. Based on a longitudinal survey of young apple plantations in Serbia and the results of pathogen detection and identification using conventional and molecular methods, the plant pathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora was found as the causative agent. By increasing the incidence of collar and rootstock blight in young apple trees, E. amylovora is gaining importance as the most destructive disease in apple production. In order to control E. amylovora effectively and apply appropriate control measures, it is necessary to survey the development of lesser-known symptoms caused by this pathogen, which are becoming prevalent in Serbian agroecological conditions.