Clavibacter nebraskensis does not occur in Mexico
In the EPPO RS 2024/137, it was reported that Clavibacter nebraskensis (EPPO Alert List) had been detected in Mexico by Flores et al. (2024). The NPPO of Mexico informed the EPPO Secretariat that they considered that the results of this research study could not be used to indicate the presence of the pathogen in Mexico. They underlined several points of concern, in particular the lack of precise data on the origin of the seed from which the infected crops were grown and the lack of precise location of these infected crops, and question the fact that the different strains reported in the study belong to several clades.
The NPPO conducted targeted surveillance from 2024 in the localities mentioned in the publication and has not detected C. nebraskensis. They recalled that C. nebraskensis is a quarantine pest for Mexico and therefore is included in regular surveillance.
Further monitoring will be conducted in Mexico in 2025 and 2026, as well as further work on diagnostic tools. The existing Pest Risk Analysis for Mexico is also being updated.
The pest status of Clavibacter nebraskensis in Mexico is officially declared as: Absent: pest records invalid.
Sources
NPPO of Mexico (2025-05).