EFSA updates Xylella host plant database
Key findings:A new host plant was identified: the Cantabrian mountain oak (Quercus orocantabrica) was naturally infected in Portugal.For the first time, natural infections of the Pierce’s disease strain – a strain of Xylella fastidiosa that causes disease in vineyards in North America – have been found in grapes, almonds and other plants in Italy’s Apulia region.The total number of confirmed host species has increased to 452 species (from 70 different botanical families) when using the most stringent detection methods.No new sequence types (STs) of Xylella were identified worldwide.BackgroundXylella fastidiosa is a bacterial pathogen that causes severe diseases in a wide range of plants, including olive trees, citrus fruits, grapevines and various ornamental plants. EFSA developed the Xylella spp. host plant database following a request from the European Commission to support risk assessment and management efforts to control Xylella fastidiosa. The database, which has been continuously updated since 2016, serves as an important resource for policy makers, researchers, and plant health authorities.Read the full reportFor more information, contact plants [at] efsa.europa.eu (plants[at]efsa[dot]europa[dot]eu).
