fire blight
noun
: a destructive infectious disease especially of apples, pears, and related fruits caused by a bacterium (Erwinia amylovora)
Examples of fire blight in a Sentence
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According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Callery pear was introduced in breeding programs in the U.S. because it was known to resist fire blight, a disease affecting pear and apple trees.
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Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Bradford pear trees crowd out native plants Bradford pear trees are a variety of the Callery pear, which was introduced to the U.S. from Asia in the early 1900s in an attempt to fight fire blight, a disease that affected common pear trees.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
And the culprit for this sounds like a disease called fire blight.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
Apples are susceptible to several serious diseases, including apple scab, cedar-apple rust, fire blight and powdery mildew.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
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Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Bradford pear trees crowd out native plants Bradford pear trees are a variety of the Callery pear, which was introduced to the U.S. from Asia in the early 1900s in an attempt to fight fire blight, a disease that affected common pear trees.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
And the culprit for this sounds like a disease called fire blight.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
Apples are susceptible to several serious diseases, including apple scab, cedar-apple rust, fire blight and powdery mildew.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fire blight
Cite this Entry
“Fire blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fire%20blight. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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