EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 03 - 2022 Num. article: 2022/064

Update of the situation of Xylella fastidiosa in Portugal


In Portugal, Xylella fastidiosa (EPPO A2 list) was first reported in December 2018 near Porto (EPPO RS 2019/017). The subspecies present was identified as Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex. Official surveillance is conducted. In 2021, as a result of official surveillance, X. fastidiosa was found in 2021 in the Algarve region and near Lisbon. Eradication measures according to EU Regulation 2020/1201 are applied in all cases. 

  • In the area around Porto, since the first detection, 19 049 samples were collected, 18 745 tested, of which 815 are pending results, 338 samples were positive, resulting in 110 infected zones being defined which are located in 9 municipalities of the Área Metropolitana do Porto (Norte region). 
  • In the municipality of Luz de Tavira e Santo Estevão (Algarve region), X. fastidiosa (subspecies undetermined) was found in July 2021 on asymptomatic Salvia rosmarinus plants in a nursery. An intensive survey was conducted in the infected zone, and 1 988 plants were sampled and tested from all lots of the host plants present in the place of production, as well as 1 520 host plants in the buffer zone. Insect vectors were also tested. All tests were negative for X. fastidiosa. All host plants listed in the EU Regulation within a radius of 50 m were destroyed after insecticide treatment. 
  • In the Área Metropolitana de Lisboa, X. fastidiosa (subspecies undetermined) was found in July 2021 on symptomatic Salvia rosmarinus in a public area located in the Union of parishes of Massamá e Monte Abraão (county of Sintra, Lisbon region). An infested area and a buffer zone have been established. 

The pest status of Xylella fastidiosa in Portugal is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.


Sources

NPPO of Portugal (2022-02) Maps of demarcated areas are available at: https://www.dgav.pt/plantas/conteudo/sanidade-vegetal/inspecao-fitossanitaria/informacao-fitossanitaria/xylella-fastidiosa/

EU (2020) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1201 of 14 August 2020 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2020/1201/oj