EFSA has updated its assessment of the risks flummox by Xylella fastidiosa to plants and crops in the European Union . The unexampled assessment provides unexampled insights and ratiocination on hold exist outbreaks of this plague and prevent further bed cover in the EU .
Controlling the threatEFSA ’s Plant Health Panel ( PLH ) used computer modeling to imitate howX. fastidiosaspreads across short and long distances under different conditions . The modelling showed the importance of implement command measures , such as thosespecified by the European Commission , to foreclose further spread and even eradicate outbreaks . It illustrated the comparative effectiveness of using unlike - sized fender zones to insure an septic area .
The simulation also demonstrated the importance of controlling the insects that are know to transmit the pathogen in Europe – such as the spittlebugPhilaenus spumarius – and minimising the delay between detection and implementation of control measures such as removing infected plants and establishing demarcated areas .
Is there a cure?The assessment confirms that there is still no known way of reject the bacteria from a pathological works in bailiwick conditions . The effectivity of chemical substance and biological control measures has been assessed in recent experiments . The resultant show that they may temporarily reduce disease severity in some post , but there is no evidence that they could eliminateX. fastidiosain field conditions over a prospicient flow of fourth dimension .
Which countries are at risk?Computer simulation showed that although most of the EU territory has climate types under which the pathogen is known to occur elsewhere in the Earth , the areas most at risk of exposure are in southern Europe ( see map ) . However , the modeling showed some variation to this general rule consort to the race involved . For example , it suggested thatX. fastidiosasubsp.multiplexhad great potential to set up in northern Europe than other subspecies .
The information on risk of establishment will be valuable in place up surveillance and detection programmes in different Member States . EFSA is presently developing study guidelines onX. fastidiosawith flora health organisations across the EU .
A concealed pestThe assessment contain a key section on variation in the symptomless period – the time from contagion to expression of symptom – of works that can act as server forX. fastidiosa .
A literature review and data point analysis expose significant difference in the symptomless period for different combination of legion and subspecies . This information will attend to in the design of cut surveillance programme as well as help risk managers to make up one’s mind when it is safe to end demarcation of an irruption area .
Future researchStephen Parnell , Chair of the PLH Panel’sX. fastidiosaworking group , say : “ This was a complex scientific challenge with many areas of uncertainty , but we have distill some significant conclusions that will serve danger managers , danger assessors and researchers .
“ reckoner computer simulation are at the core of this scientific opinion . The models we have developed are racy and , importantly , pliant so they can be adapted to search a wide reach of different scenario and support emergency provision . ”
Dr Parnell added : “ A wealthiness of new data has become available since our last judgment was published in 2015 , much of it generated by EU - fund projects such asPOnTEandXF - ACTORS . Our discernment of this life-threatening plant life plague is kick upstairs all the time thanks to these initiatives , although much uncertainty remains , especially at race and successiveness character level .
“ It is vital that we continue to enthrone in research that can help oneself us to not only see to it outbreaks but anticipate them . ”
BackgroundXylella fastidiosais one of the most dangerous plant bacteria in the world . It cause a wide chain of mountains of diseases , with immense economical impact on agriculture , gardens and the surroundings .
The four most unremarkably reported subspecies arefastidiosa , pauca , multiplexandsandyi . The bacteria endure in the plant xylem tissue paper and is commonly spread by insect vectors feeding from the industrial plant xylem .
X. fastidiosawas first detect in Europe in 2013 , when an outbreak begin in Apulia , southerly Italy . Since then it has been report in France ( Corsica and Provence - Alpes - Côte d’Azur ) , Spain ( Balearics , Valencia , Madrid ) , central Italy ( Tuscany ) and Portugal ( Porto ) . EU exigency control standard are in place in all the outbreak areas .
