Fire Blight

• Fire blight is a destructive bacterial disease that infects the bloom, foliage, stems and branches of the evergreen pear. The disease lies dormant in dead and previously infected wood and cankers during the winter months only to infect the evergreen pear's newly developing areas in the early spring. The infected blooms become water-soaked before turning black and dying. The newly developed foliage and shoots become blighted and distorted before dying from the disease. The blight is accompanied by bacterial ooze that promotes secondary infections, along with dieback and growth-stunt symptoms. The infected areas must be pruned from the tree in order for chemical treatments to be effective. Failure to treat the fire blight infection will result in the blight overwhelming and killing the tree.
  
  

Leaf Spot

• Leaf spot is a mild disease that can be caused by a host of agents, including fungi, bacteria and insects. Most aggressive after long periods of rainfall, the disease infects the foliage causing small, necrotic spots on the leaves surfaces that enlarge as the disease progressives. Severely infected evergreen pear trees occasionally experience defoliation and dieback. It is much easier to prevent leaf spot infections than it is to control the infections. Regular fungicide applications during the early spring will greatly reduce the potential of infection. Infected areas of diseased pear trees should be removed first, to ensure effective chemical treatment.
  
  

Crown Gall

• As a member of the rose family, the evergreen pear is highly susceptible to crown gall. This spore-borne bacterial disease develops in the soil and infects the evergreen pear through wounds in its roots and bark. The infected tree develops cankers on its stems, branches and roots that slow, if not stop, the passage of water and nutrients throughout the tree. As a result, the evergreen pear can experience wilt, leaf drop, dieback and stunted growth. While there is no cure for crown gall, the progression of the disease can be slowed by pruning away the cankerous areas and treating the tree with chemicals. Severely infected trees should be removed and destroyed.
  
  

Armillaria Root Rot

• Armillaria root rot is a soil-borne fungal disease that infects the evergreen pear through its root system. The disease gradually breaks down the tree's root system, which prevents the tree from transporting water and nutrients. The evergreen pear develops fungal mushrooms and cankers around the base while the foliage begins to wilt and the stems and branches experience dieback. There is no cure for armillaria root rot and the tree will eventually die. Of course, the severely infected tree should be removed and destroyed to prevent cross-infection of other susceptible trees in the area.