Effects of Chemical Products on Fire Blight Suppression, and Fruit Production and Quality in Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Golden Glory

Antibiotics are widely used in fire blight management programs, yet there are no studies that demonstrate the evaluation of their efficacy in Mexico. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the active ingredients in five commercial products (Kasumin (R) 2L, Agrygent Plus (R), Agricultural Terramycin (R), Agrimicin (R) 100, and Actigard (R)) on fire blight suppression, and fruit yield and quality of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Golden Glory. The experiment was conducted in a commercial orchard using a completely randomized block design, with six treatments: (1) Oxytetracycline [Ox], 110 mg L-1; (2) Kasugamycin [Kas], 4.7 mL L-1; (3) Oxytetracycline + Gentamicin [Ox + Gen], 48 mg L-1 + 12 mg L-1; (4) Streptomycin + Oxytetracycline [Str + Ox], 90 mg L-1+ 9 mg L-1; (5) Acibenzolar-S-methyl [ASM], 70 mg L-1; and (6) Control, only water, with four replications, and three 11-year-old trees as an experimental unit. Variables of infection including flowers, shoots and fruits, yield and fruit quality were evaluated. All treatments suppressed infection in flowers, shoots, and fruits. ASM provided the highest levels of reduction of flower and shoot infection, while Kas had the least effect on the reduction of infection in these variables. The Ox + Gen treatment had the greatest suppression of fruit infection, and the best results on fruit yield and quality, followed by Ox and ASM. This is the first study conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the active ingredients of five commercial products used for the management of fire blight in apple trees in Mexico.