Abstract
Since 2013, Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. has been reported to infect several hosts and to be present in different areas of Europe. The main damage has been inflicted on the olive orchards of southern Apulia (Italy), where a severe disease associated with X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca strain De Donno has led to the death of millions of trees. This dramatic and continuously evolving situation has led to European and national (Italian and Spanish) measures being implemented to reduce the spread of the pathogen and the associated olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS). Research has been also carried out to find solutions to better and directly fight the bacterium and its main insect vector, Philaenus spumarius L. In the course of this frantic effort, several treatments based on chemical or biological substances have been tested, in addition to plant breeding techniques and integrated pest management approaches. This review aims to summarize the attempts made so far and describe the prospects for better management of this serious threat, which poses alarming questions for the future of olive cultivation in the Mediterranean basin and beyond.
Highlights
Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al (Xanthomonadaceae) [1] is a bacterial pathogen that has been well documented for its worldwide spread and infection of a broad range of plant species
It is worth noting that given the recent introduction of this highly virulent strain of X. fastidiosa in Apulia, most of these studies are considered to be at the preliminary stage, in the absence of an effective strategy, some of these attempts appear to be at least promising
Since “there are still no risk reduction options that can remove the bacterium from the plant in open field conditions “, the core of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies used to control X. fastidiosa, when it is established in an area, relies on “early detection and rapid application of phytosanitary measures, consisting among others of plant removal and vector control” [26] (Figure 2, bottom)
Summary
Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al (Xanthomonadaceae) [1] is a bacterial pathogen that has been well documented for its worldwide spread and infection of a broad range of plant species. X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca strain “De Donno” has infected about 4 million trees in the outbreak area [13]. Two years after its discovery in Apulia, X. fastidiosa was considered no longer eradicable due to the large occurrence of infected plants in the outbreak area. This induced the National and European Phytosanitary Authorities to move from an “eradication” to a “containment” strategy [14]. Multilocus sequence typing and genomic analyses of isolates infecting different ornamental plants and almond trees revealed the occurrence of the newly discovered ST87, belonging to subsp. We report on X. fastidiosa infection in almond plants and the containment measures implemented in Spain, because in this area, as in Italy, the bacterium is severely affecting a major crop. The proposed solutions are bound to comply with the sustainability principles expressed by the European Commission (EC) in the European Green Deal
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