Antibiotics
Bacterial infections of plants are not as common as they are with humans and animals; however, there are several serious bacterial conditions that can require a plant healthcare intervention. Bacterial leaf scorch is a chronic disease that gums up the plant’s vascular tissue, eventually leading to death if untreated. Fireblight infects woody members of the Rosacea family including apples, crabapples, pear, stone fruits, mountain ash, and others.
Antibiotic treatments in woody plants are applied by tree injection - there are no spray or soil-applied antibiotics available. Antibiotics in plants are also best employed as part of a multi-pronged management approach. Their likelihood of success goes up when combined with other tools like systemic insecticides, growth regulators, mycorrhizae, and cultural practices like proper watering.
