Eradication of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ in Jordan
In Jordan ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ (EU A1 quarantine pest) and ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’ (EPPO A1 List) were first detected in 2021 (EPPO RS 2024/138). The NPPO of Jordan recently provided the EPPO Secretariat with an update of the situation of these phytoplasmas.
For ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’ the almond (Prunus dulcis) tree that was found to be infected in Ain Jana (Ajloun governorate) was destroyed. Considering that almond is not a major crop in the region with only scattered trees, that ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’ was not detected in insect vectors, and that ongoing national surveys (2021–2025) did not detect the pest in the surveyed regions (Ajloun, Irbid,Mafraq), ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’ is considered no longer present.
The pest status of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ in Jordan is officially declared as: Absent, confirmed by survey.
Concerning ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’, the NPPO of Jordan noted that the phytoplasma was detected on several occasions in a few plants: in Aijloun governorate on pear (RS 2024/138) but also in pomegranate. Related strains belonging to subgroup 16SrII-C were also detected in potato (Solanum tuberosum) in 2019, in one almond tree in Aijloun, in two grapevines in Mafraq and on weeds in Umjmal, Kufr soum and Aldisi-South. All outbreaks have been eradicated. Targeted field surveys were conducted in 2021–2025 in three governorates (Ajloun, Irbid, Mafraq), focusing on almond, pear, and grapevine orchards and did not detect the pest.
The pest status of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ in Jordan is officially declared as: Absent, confirmed by survey.
Sources
NPPO of Jordan (2025-10).