Molecular analyses to identify gene resistance in pear ( pyrus communis) cultivars for the fire blight diseases in Iraqi Kurdistan region

Fire blight, a bacterial infection, is caused by Erwinia amylovora, is pivotal in pear (Pyrus communis) that is a deciduous woody fruit-bearing plant that is classified within the Rosaceae family, under the subfamily Maloideae, and is part of the Pyrus genus. This fruit tree is known for shedding its leaves annually and thrives in temperate regions.The pathogen Erwinia amylovora is widely distributed in numerous countries where apple and pear cultivation is prevalent, affecting various plant species within the Rosaceae family, especially those in the Maloideae subfamily. Cultivating resistant cultivars against fire blight is highly feasible. This study utilized seven distinct primer combinations (MdE-EaN, MdE-EaK3, MdE-EaK5, MdE-EaK4, FRMB31M87, FRMb32MO4b, and FRMb32M27) to evaluate fire blight resistance presence in pear cultivars, yielding positive results in six regions in Kurdistan, Iraq. A diverse selection of examined cultivars exhibited band sizes ranging from 135 to 200 bp. The research effectively identified distinct genetic markers linked to resistance development against fire blight within specific pears cultivars. In Duhok, Harame Sherain landraces showed positive results with all primers, while Pazie also displayed positivity except with primer MdE-EaK5, while from Hawaller, Qazam, and Buharie landraces had positive outcomes in all primers except with primer MdE-EaK5, whereas Doshawe from Saylaman and Gollawie from Halbja exhibited positive results except with primer FRMB31M87. Additionally, the study recognized certain pear landraces lacking essential genes for fire blight resistance, making them vulnerable to the disease. These findings underscore the critical role of genetic factors in determining a specific level of resistance against fire blightKey words; Fire blight, Pyrus communis, Molecular investigation