'Fire Blight Alert'... Gyeonggi Agricultural Research & Extension Services Joint Inspection Starting from the 20th of This Month

Researchers are conducting inspections for fire blight disease in fruit trees.

Gyeonggi Province has urged orchard farmers in the region to be cautious of fire blight disease.

On the 16th, the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services announced that due to warmer-than-average weather and heavy rainfall, there is a possibility of an increase in fire blight occurrences, and they have begun joint surveillance and other measures to prevent the spread of fire blight in orchards.

To prevent the spread of fire blight, the Agricultural Research and Extension Services will conduct detailed inspections through joint surveillance four times annually starting in May across all apple and pear orchards planted in 29 cities and counties. The first joint surveillance will take place from the 20th to the 31st of this month.

Seong Je-hoon, head of the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, stated, "While joint surveillance between the province and cities/counties is important, the interest, surveillance, and reporting by farmers are the most crucial." He added, "The Agricultural Research and Extension Services will do its best to strengthen on-site surveillance in cooperation with related organizations to prevent the spread of fire blight."

Fire blight affects over 180 species in the Rosaceae family, including apples and pears. It is a plant quarantine pest and disease prohibited under the Plant Protection Act, causing leaves, flowers, branches, and fruits to turn black or brown and wither as if scorched by fire. Additionally, due to its rapid spread, official control measures must be implemented within 10 days of detection.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.