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. 2026 Apr 10;17:1816023. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1816023

FIGURE 7.

Panel A shows circular heatmap diagrams indicating infection severity scores for bacterial strains and combinations at different days post-inoculation, with color intensity increasing by score. Panel B presents three line graphs of log CFU per gram of fruit for strains Ea, EL51 and 2186, tracked over time, with statistical significance and a legend explaining shapes, symbol types, and colors. Panel C displays two sets of boxplots comparing pH values in LB and AB (apple sugars) media for each strain combination, with statistical results and color-coded backgrounds.

Interplay among Erwinia amylovora Z2274Rif (Ea) and two antagonists (Rahnella sp. EL51Nal and Erwinia sp. 2186) in immature “Pink Lady” apples. (A) Schematic timeline of symptom development. Each circle represents one apple replicate. Numbers within each circle are symptom ratings based on a severity index (SI) where 0 means no symptoms and 6, fully necrosed fruit. (B) Population dynamics in detached fruit. Lines show the mean Log-transformed CFU/gram of fruit ± standard deviation. The summary of a two-way ANOVA analysis of each data set is detailed on the upper left corner of each chart. (C) Effect of strain growth on medium acidification. The pH of the medium of three replicates is represented with box plots for each treatment. The significancy of medium, treatment (strain combination) and interaction effects on medium pH is summarized on the upper left side of the chart. Asterisks indicate significant differences with Ea alone at the same time point (B) or grown in the same medium (C): *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001.