Compound Found In Extreme Conditions May Help Fruit Growers

A promising new tool for the tree fruit industry is moving from the lab to the field.  Researchers at Washington State University are testing a compound derived from a microorganism that thrives in extreme environments, like boiling acid and deep-sea vents, to fight two major threats: fire blight and listeria. 

Scientist Cynthia Haseltine has spent nearly a decade developing the compound, which is now backed by a $141,293 grant from the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission.  Haseltine said current treatments are losing effectiveness, but this new compound remains stable in harsh conditions and works even against bacteria protected in biofilms.

“This work has the potential to make a real difference for Washington’s tree fruit industry,” Haseltine said. “If it performs as expected, it could help growers better manage fire blight in orchards while also reducing costly Listeria risks in packing facilities.” 

The compound has several traits that make it promising.  Because it is derived from microorganisms adapted to extreme environments, it remains stable across a wide range of temperatures and conditions common in orchards and packing facilities.  It has also shown effectiveness against pathogens within biofilms — protective layers bacteria form on surfaces to shield themselves from disinfectants and antibiotics.  In addition, while the targeted pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, that is unlikely with the compound.

“There’s a really low chance for resistance developing,” Haseltine said. “For that to happen, it would require multiple simultaneous mutations that are, statistically, very, very unlikely, whereas antibiotic resistance is often a single mutation.” 

Field trials are now underway in Wenatchee orchards and Prosser packing facilities.

“Moving this out of the lab and into real‑world conditions is a critical step,” Haseltine said. “We need hard data from trees and from listeria in packing‑lines to understand how the compound performs and whether it can become a practical tool for growers.” 

Fire blight alone causes more than 100 million dollars in losses nationwide each year and can destroy entire orchards.  Meanwhile, listeria contamination in packing facilities can trigger costly recalls and serious illness. 

“This work has the potential to impact growers quickly,” Haseltine said. “If it succeeds, it could benefit farmers, consumers and the broader food system in Washington and beyond.”

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