Forest Health in Italy: Learning From the Xylella Incursion

Anna Maria Vettraino,Alberto Santini

doi:10.3389/ffgc.2021.699393

Abstract

Italy has an increasing part of its territory covered by forest, particularly prone to invasion by invasive forest pathogens (IFPs) owing to the presence of many different habitats and climates. To be effective, any preventive or management tools to prevent the arrival and establishment of IFPs must be included in the framework of phytosanitary legislation. The European Union has an open-door phytosanitary system meaning that any consignment that is not specifically regulated can enter. Increasing evidence of the limitations and subsequent gaps in biosecurity with the current system. Learning from the recent outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa, we provide comments and suggestions to fill the gaps and improve the phytosanitary system in Italy.

Highlights

Has 11.4 million hectares of forest covering 38% of the country, less than 1% of which are industrial plantations (Sicurezza et al, 2020)
The health of these trees is continuously threatened by the arrival of new invasive forest pathogens (IFPs) and the re-emergence of native pathogens
Xylella fastidiosa evaded border detection possibly because it can remain latent for long periods or cryptically present in plants not previously known as hosts, which currently include up to 595 plant species in 85 families (European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2020b)

Summary

Introduction

Has 11.4 million hectares of forest covering 38% of the country, less than 1% of which are industrial plantations (Sicurezza et al, 2020). For most of the last 70 years, increased global trade has resulted in new plant pests and pathogens invasions. Xylella fastidiosa fits the description, and is the causal agent of several lethal diseases on both agricultural and forest species (European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2015).

Results

Conclusion