August 31, 2001 — SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Mirroring similar concerns of other industries that utilize contamination control, apple growers are finding many antimicrobial compounds used to protect crops are becoming less effective.

According to the American Phytopathological Society, which recently held a symposiumon the subject in Utah, microorganisms are fast developing a resistance to many of the compounds use to combat the bacterial disease fire blight.

But the issue, according to symposium organizer Paul Lewis, also affects other industries, including pharmaceutical.

“It’s critical that we examine methods to prevent and/or manage antimicrobial resistance if we are to continue to receive the substantial benefits these agents offer,” Lewis said.

The APS is one of the largest groups of plant health scientists in the world.