Fire blight penetrates trees in the spring via their blossoms, often killing the host or indeed entire orchards. Until now the only option for prevention has been an antibiotic - although experts are worried the pathogen could one day develop a resistance.
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That’s why researchers at the Julius Kühn Institute near Heidelberg are looking for a biological counterpart - another strain of bacteria that competes with fire blight for nutrients, but doesn’t harm the plant.