Xylella fastidiosa has spread to olive trees in France.
On Friday, September 6 France’s agriculture ministry said it had identified the first two cases of olive trees infected with the pathogen, which has destroyed scores of groves across Italy and the Mediterranean region.
See Also:Complete Coverage: Xylella FastidiosaIn France, Xylella was first found on the island of Corsica in July 2015. At the time it affected myrtle-leaf milkwort plants — not olive trees.
The two infected olive trees, which were kept for ornamental purposes, were detected in the towns of Antibes and Menton in the South of France.
The ministry said the trees were infected by the same pauca subspecies of Xylella that has destroyed olive trees across Italy.
They said they would try to prevent the spread of the disease by destroying the two trees in the next few days and uprooting all other plants that are vulnerable to Xylella within a five-kilometer radius of the two reported cases.
Xylella fastidiosa is a plant pathogenic bacteria that has led to the destruction of olive trees in some regions, especially Puglia, Italy. Widespread efforts are underway at various local and international levels to control the pathogen.
Xylella is spread by xylem fluid-feeding insects.
Related Articles
Mar. 14, 2024
Authorities in Puglia Confirm Culprit in Olive Tree Devastation
Officials rebuffed a recent study that implied Xylella fastidiosa was not mainly responsible for the millions of ravaged trees.
Nov. 25, 2024
Carrefour Mandates Nutri-Score Labels for French Suppliers
The supermarket chain said the company would calculate its Nutri-Score ratings for suppliers who fail to comply.
Mar. 6, 2024
Xylella May Not Be Responsible for Olive Tree Devastation in Puglia, Study Finds
The findings could unravel a decade of policy and understanding that Xylella fastidiosa was the leading cause of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome in Puglia.
Jun. 3, 2024
Xylella-Resilient Groves Are the Future of Apulian Olive Oil
Farmers’ associations, researchers and institutions are teaming up to replant Xylella fastidiosa-resilient olive trees in Puglia.
Mar. 25, 2024
Scientists Defend Study Finding Xylella Not Responsible for Most OQDS
Margherita Ciervo and Marco Scortichini defend their research that found Xylella fastidiosa was not responsible for most Apulian olive tree deaths over the past decade.
Feb. 19, 2024
How One Producer Deals with Rising Volumes and A Shorter Harvest in France
In the South of France, the producer behind Mas des Bories manages a bumper harvest and a shorter window to mill.
Jan. 29, 2024
Meet the Man Trying to Transform the Olive Sector in France
Yannick Masmondet is working with farmers to plant 50,000 hectares of olive groves on unused agricultural land, expanding national production while diversifying farmer portfolios.
Jul. 15, 2024
Xylella Fastidiosa Identified in Extremadura
Extremadura joins the Balearic Islands and the Community of Valencia as the Spanish regions with active Xylella infestations.