Fire blight primarily affects which family?

Fire blight primarily affects which family?

• A. Rosaceae
• B. Aceraceae
• C. Solanaceae
• D. Poaceae

Answer: (A)

Fire blight is a bacterial disease that primarily targets plants in the rose family, Rosaceae. The pathogen Erwinia amylovora infects apples, pears, crabapples, quinces, and related Rosaceae species, causing the characteristic scorched-looking shoots and cankers. Because the main hosts belong to Rosaceae, this family is the correct choice. The other families listed—maples (Aceraceae), nightshades like tomatoes and potatoes (Solanaceae), and grasses (Poaceae)—are not the typical hosts for fire blight, so they are not commonly affected.

Fire blight is a bacterial disease that primarily targets plants in the rose family, Rosaceae. The pathogen Erwinia amylovora infects apples, pears, crabapples, quinces, and related Rosaceae species, causing the characteristic scorched-looking shoots and cankers. Because the main hosts belong to Rosaceae, this family is the correct choice. The other families listed—maples (Aceraceae), nightshades like tomatoes and potatoes (Solanaceae), and grasses (Poaceae)—are not the typical hosts for fire blight, so they are not commonly affected.