Update on the situation of Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii in Italy
In Italy, the bacterial wilt of maize caused by Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii (EPPO A2 List) was first found in 2017 in maize (Zea mays) fields grown for forage in Friuli-Venezia Giulia region (EPPO RS 2018/038), and again in 2018 in the regions of Emilia-Romagna (1 field in Parma province, 2 in Bologna province) and of Lombardia (2 fields in Cremona province). Eradication measures were applied.
The NPPO of Italy recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that the first outbreak in Friuli-Venezia Giulia as well as those in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardia are now considered eradicated. Surveys conducted in the following years did not detect any symptomatic plants. As part of official monitoring, the bacterium was detected again in 2019 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in five maize fields grown for forage, located in five different municipalities (Bagnaria Arsa, Coseano, Pagnacco, Romans d’Isonzo, San Pier d’Insonzo). As was the case in 2017, very few plants were symptomatic, and the infection did not result in economic damage. The outbreaks of 2019 are now also considered eradicated. The absence of Chaetocnema pulicaria, which is the insect vector in USA, was also confirmed in Italy.
The pest status of Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii in Italy is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2020-04).