Remote sensing and field analysis of Erwinia amylovora on quince

Fire blight is responsible for significant losses and affects production quality in all growing countries worldwide, including Romania. Despite the availability of various prevention and control strategies, their practical effectiveness has been notably limited, and no viable technologies have yet emerged. This research aims to investigate the impact of climatic conditions, genetic material and cultivation methods on the intensity of Erwinia amylovora attack on quince by using field determination techniques and satellite sensor systems. Over three years in a quince orchard naturally infected with E. amylovora, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) indices were tested along with analyses of attack intensity (I), degree of attack (DA) and frequency (F). The results obtained showed that the genetic sensitivity and/or tolerance of the varieties is essential, together with the specific local climatic conditions. The two analyzed varieties (‘Bereczky’ and ‘Aurii’) cultivated under organic technology, showed different levels of tolerance to fire blight. While a significant correlation exists between the two vegetation indices, NDRE demonstrates higher accuracy due to its ability to conduct spectral analyses within the plant canopy. Furthermore, NDRE values closely align with those observed through assessments of attack intensity and frequency in the orchard.