On 28 March 2023, in the context of the “Xylella Files” spring seminars, Carmine Del Grosso from IPSP-CNR will discuss the selection, evaluation, and characterization of bioactive compounds for their activity against Xylella fastidiosa, in particular subspecies pauca (Xfp), the causal agent of the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS).

Resistant cultivars are currently considered the most effective solution to hinder the pathogen’s spread, but their deployment on the ground takes time. New bioactive and sustainable substances may be helpful to provide some relief in infected areas in the short term.

Del Grosso will present his research on the evaluation of bioactive compounds for their antimicrobial activity against Xfp, as well as other plant pathogenic bacteria. The selected substances highlighted a robust antibacterial activity against 13 worldwide important phytopathogenic bacteria.

A second part of the research focused on the in-vitro evaluation of the bactericidal activity of a set of products against Xfp, strain ST53 responsible for OQDS, and other different strains and subspecies of this bacterium.

Successively, experiments on pot-grown olive plants maintained in greenhouse conditions supported an assessment of the capability of the most promising compounds to control the disease. Some of those significantly reduced the bacterial population and the development of Xfp symptoms when applied to olive plants. However, once the treatments stopped, the plants underwent a rapid decay that led to their death.

For more information on the webinar: Leonardo De La Fuente, lzd0005@auburn.edu.