Abstract
The main objective of this EU project is the study of natural defense mechanisms of pome fruit against fire blight, a disease of relevant importance in several rosaceous species all over the world and quite recently in Italy. The recent outbreaks of the disease in Italy as well as the situation in other European countries justify the attention given by several research institutions to face this disease. A multidisciplinary approach was chosen to achieve the objective of the project including horticultural, bacteriological, biochemical, and molecular biology methods. The goals partially achieved by the project partners concern the availability of dioxygenase inhibitors, of plant material susceptible and tolerant to Erwinia amylovora to test, of preliminary results of practical applications on pome fruit species and varieties and the involvement of some flavonoids involved in defense reactions versus Erwinia amylovora. The most significant results obtained up to now are presented here.