In the framework of the monitoring campaign annually carried out in the Apulia region (southern Italy) to tackle the epidemic of X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca decimating olive trees, an outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex was discovered in 2024 with almond...
Publications
Keywords
Physiologically-based eco-epidemiological model of Xylella fastidiosa infection in olive groves
Natural occurrence of infections of the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius by the entomopathogenic fungi Zoophthora radicans and Batkoa major in Northwest Italy
An infection event of the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) has been described, for the first time, in northwest Italy. The causative agents were two entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Entomophthorales, specifically Zoophthora radicans and,...
Aggressiveness of Subspecies and STs of Xylella fastidiosa and Plant Response in Nicotiana benthamiana
The aggressiveness of seventeen X. fastidiosa strains, representing different subspecies and sequence types (STs), was studied in the surrogated host N. benthamiana by the analysis of the population levels and symptoms dynamics, dose-response relationships and the...
Diversity and lytic potential of novel phages targeting Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa
Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited plant-pathogenic bacterium responsible for several economically significant plant diseases, including Pierce’s disease in grapevine. Current control strategies face significant challenges in completely eradicating this pathogen....
Thermal Dynamics of Xylem and Soil–Root Temperatures in Olive and Almond Trees and Their Relationship with Air Temperature
Air temperature is commonly used to represent plant thermal conditions, although temperatures within woody tissues and the soil–root zone can differ substantially under field conditions. This study characterized the thermal dynamics of xylem tissue and the soil–root...
The hidden life of Xylella: mining the NCBI Sequence Read Archive reveals potential new species, host plants, and infected areas for this elusive bacterial plant pathogen
New crop disease outbreaks can occur when phytopathogenic bacterial pathogens acquire new traits, switch to a new host plant, or are introduced into new geographic areas. Therefore, the rapid detection of a pathogen in a new environment and/or in a new host plant is...
Isolation, Phylogenetic Inferences, and Early Diversification of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa in Cova da Beira Region, Portugal
The introduction of Xylella fastidiosa, a plant pathogen with a broad host range, poses a significant threat to agriculture and natural ecosystems. We analyzed six X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa strains obtained from the Beira Interior region of Portugal, an area...
Synthetic lipopeptides that interact with lipopolysaccharides are potent bactericidal compounds against Xylella fastidiosa
Novel strategies to control diseases caused by Xylella fastidiosa that affect important crops like grapevine, olive, almond, and citrus are necessary to prevent its establishment and spread in several countries. Target-oriented functional peptides toward the pathogen...
A pathogen of good taste: genetics of a bacterial host jump of the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa from coffee to wine grapes
When pathogens are repeatedly introduced into new environments, host jumps may occur into naïve taxa. Given the magnitude of the global plant trade, this process can lead to frequent disease emergence as interactions between previously isolated pathogens and new plant...