First report of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri in Martinique
In Martinique (FR), Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (EPPO A1 List) was detected in 2014 in a small citrus orchard located in the municipality of Morne Rouge. This orchard included the following citrus species: 14 grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), 14 mandarin (C. reticulata), 3 orange (C. sinensis), 1 lime (C. latifolia) trees. The owner of this orchard had contacted the official authorities in June 2014 and the presence of the bacterium was officially confirmed in July 2014 in all grapefruit, orange, and lime trees, as well as in 7 (out of 14) mandarin trees. In August 2014, eradication measures were implemented. A focus zone and a buffer zone were delimited. In the focus zone, all citrus hosts were tested and in the buffer zone, citrus trees were tested at random. All infected trees were destroyed in the orchard concerned, as well as in several private gardens. As of October 2015, no other infected trees have been detected in the municipality of Morne Rouge, and this outbreak is considered to be successfully eradicated. However, during surveillance activities carried out across the whole territory of Martinique, 2 new outbreaks were found in the municipalities of Lorrain and Saint-Pierre, in May 2015 and August 2015, respectively. Eradication measures are being implemented.
The pest status of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri in Martinique is officially declared as: Transient, subject to a control programme, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of France (2015-10).