Erwinia amylovora

The name of a bacterium (Gram-negative) that has a destructive and highly infectious impact on various fruits, predominantly apples and pears, but also quinces, raspberries and others. It creates the fire blight disease that is believed to be indigenous to North America but now has spread to most of the rest of the world. The name comes from the appearance of the disease, as leaves and branches look like being charred by fire.