Concern killer olive bacteria could spread to citrus, grape, stone fruit

Citrus trees and grapevines are among other plants that could be affected by a bacteria killing olive trees in Italy’s Puglia region, a Spanish agricultural union has warned.

Asaja has called for tight border controls to prevent the entry into spain of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), which it said has been dubbed the ebola of the olive sector due to its devastating impact on the plants it infects.

Today Asaja raised the issue during a meeting with other farm unions and Elena Víboras, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development in the Andalusian regional government. Later, Asaja said it had been assured that the government was exercising constant vigilance against the threat of the bacteria’s entry.

In a press release, Viboras said an action plan against Xf in Andalusia include measures for the early detection of the pathogen and training for those involved in trade-sensitive plant material. She said there would be increased monitoring in relation to vulnerables species including citrus and almond trees, and grapevines.

This Thursday, the European Commission will be questioned about the Xf issue in the European Parliament.

According to the Parliament, MEPs want answers on how to tackle spread of the killer bacteria.

“MEPs also want the Commission to pursue research to eradicate deadly plant diseases caused by pathogens such as Xylella fastidiosa and Black Spot in citrus imports from South Africa. They will ask whether it is ready to tighten restrictions on plant imports,” it said.

It was also noted that Xf “has already infected thousands of hectares of olive trees in Puglia region in Southern Italy and might also attack other plant species, such as citrus, grapevines and stone fruits (almond, peach, plum), leading, in the most severe cases, to their death.”

source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/