Cotoneaster with fire blight

ALDEVAUX

Cotoneaster is susceptible to fireblight since it belongs to the apple family which is the only family susceptible to this very contageous bacterial disease.
The type of damage caused by fireblight is a rapid browning of leaves, especially on the tips of branches. When a branch is infeted, these brown leaves hang on the branch with a bending of the tips. These branches will also turn almost black in color as the infection gets older.
Once a plant is infected it is necessary to prune out the diseased areas if infection has not spread to the trunc. You must cut back 8-12" beyond the canckered area. You must also use a 10% bleach- 90% water mixture to sterilize your cutting tool between cuts.
Fireblight can kill trees as infection gets into larger branches since it is very contagious and is easily spread by insects.
The disease enters the tree through natural openings, especially flowers and wounds in the spring. Once established in the tree, fireblight quickly invades through the current season's growth into older growth.
Here is more information on the disease cycle which can be found at this link :
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/C871.htm
"Fireblight can be spread from diseased to healthy plants by rain, wind, and pruning tools. The bacterium can survive the winter in sunken cankers on infected branches. In spring, the bacteria ooze out of the cankers and attract bees and other insects. Insects also help spread the disease to healthy plants. The bacteria spread rapidly through the plant tissue in warm temperatures (65 degrees F or higher) and humid weather.
Disease Management:
Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilization, especially in summer, when succulent growth is most susceptible to fireblight infection. Avoid splashing water. Chemical control is not always effective and needs to be applied preventively. Therefore, in years when warm, humid, wet weather coincides with flowering and leaf emergence, spray plants with a fungicide containing basic copper sulfate (Kocide) or an antibiotic (Agrimycin) to reduce infection. Applications of Agrimycin need to begin at the start of blooming and continue every 3-4 days during the bloom period. Application of Kocide should begin at bloom and continue every 7 days during bloom. Re-application following rain may be needed."