Fire blight is a major disease of apples, pears and certain woody ornamental plants. It is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. This organism was one of the first plant pathogenic bacteria to be extensively investigated, and has become a model for study by bacteriologists in the development of their subject.

Written by leading research workers from the USA, Europe and New Zealand, this book is the first comprehensive volume for 20 years to address this subject.