Update of the situation of Xylella fastidiosa in Spain
This is an update of the situation of Xylella fastidiosa (EPPO A2 List) in Spain since the end of 2018 (EPPO RS 2019/018). Official surveillance is conducted and control measures are applied according to EU Regulation 2020/1201.
- Mainland Spain
In the province of Alicante (Comunidad Valenciana) Xylella fastidiosa was first found in 2017 in almond (Prunus dulcis) trees (RS 2017/133), and later on other plants. As of 2022-03, the demarcated area has been enlarged to 137 995 ha: it includes infected zones (2 864 ha) and buffer zones around the infested zones. An intensive monitoring survey is also conducted in an area of 10 km around the demarcated area. During 2021, 20 217 samples were taken in Comunidad Valenciana and 379 samples were positive. Insect vectors were also tested and X. fastidiosa was detected in Neophilaenus campestris, N. lineatus and Philaenus spumarius.
In the province of Madrid, Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex was detected in 1 olive tree (Olea europaea) in Villarejo de Salvanés in 2018. The surveys carried out in 2018, 2019 and 2020 did not detect new positive plants or vectors. The size of the buffer zone will be reduced in accordance with Regulation 2020/1201.
In Andalucia, X. fastidiosa was detected in three plants in a greenhouse in the municipality of El Ejido in 2018. Eradication measures were applied. Surveys conducted for two subsequent years concluded that the isolated finding has not spread in the area and this outbreak is now considered as eradicated.
The pest status of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex in mainland Spain is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
- Islas Baleares
In the Islas Baleares, X. fastidiosa was first detected in 2016 (RS 2016/213) and containment measures are applied. As of January 2022, 1 306 infected plants have been detected in Islas Baleares: 746 in Mallorca Island, 346 in Ibiza Island and 214 in Menorca Island. In total 37 host plants of X. fastidiosa have been recorded in Islas Baleares.
Sources
Marco-Noales E, Barbé S, Monterde A, Navarro-Herrero I, Ferrer A, Dalmau V, Aure CM, Domingo-Calap ML, Landa BB, Roselló M (2021) Evidence that Xylella fastidiosa is the causal agent of almond leaf scorch disease in Alicante, mainland Spain (Iberian Peninsula). Plant Disease 105(11), 3349-3352.
NPPO of Spain (2020-04, 2022-01, 2022-03).
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/2020/1201/2021-12-23