Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, severely affects pear production worldwide. Reliance on copper compounds and antibiotics has led to resistance issues and phytotoxicity, prompting the search for safer alternatives. A 2022–2023 laboratory study at Shahrood, Iran, evaluated two plant-derived monoterpenes—trans-anethole and carvacrol—for fire blight management through irrigation. Both compounds showed strong antibacterial activity, with MIC and MBC values of 94 µg/mL and 188 µg/mL, respectively. Response Surface Methodology identified an optimal combination of 141 µg/ mL trans-anethole and 47 µg/mL carvacrol, which significantly reduced bacterial growth. Irrigation with this mixture decreased disease severity in Pyrodwarf rootstocks by 48.5%, highlighting the potential of monoterpene-based formulations as eco-friendly tools for fire blight control.
