- Titre : Fire Blight Disease Research Achievements in Tunisia: A Comprehensive Review
- DOI:
- Auteur : Emna Bouazizi¹, Yaakoub Gharbi¹, Triki Mohamed Ali¹
- Abstract :Fire blight disease, caused by Erwinia amylovora (Burrill), emerged as a devastating pathogen in Tunisia in spring 2012, causing catastrophic losses to the national pear and apple industry (Rhouma et al., 2014). Since its first detection in the Morneg region (Ben Arous governorate), the disease has spread rapidly throughout northern Tunisia, destroying more than 5,500 hectares of pear plantations (approximately 65% of total cultivated area) and reducing national pear production from 60,000 metric tons in 2011 to less than 20,000 metric tons by 2016 (Rhouma et al., 2014; Gaaliche et al., 2018). This review synthesizes significant research achievements by Tunisian scientists in understanding and combating fire blight since 2012. Major accomplishments include: establishment of pathogen identity through rigorous microbiological and molecular characterization (Rhouma et al., 2014; Bouazizi et al., 2025); comprehensive epidemiological assessment across all major production regions (Gaaliche et al., 2018); evaluation of cultivar susceptibility patterns and identification of resistance mechanisms (Gaaliche et al., 2018; Bouazizi et al., 2020); investigation of population genetic diversity and structure of E. amylovora isolates; characterization of virulence variability among pathogen populations; identification of molecular mechanisms underlying host defense responses including antioxidant systems and salicylic acid signaling (Bouazizi et al., 2020); isolation and characterization of bacteriophages with potential for biological control; and investigation of pathogenic determinants at the molecular level, including virulence gene regulation and metabolic signaling in the plant apoplast (Jeridi, 2022).
- Pagination : 9-22
