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Xylella fasÂtidiosa, a destrucÂtive plant pathogen, has been found in almond nursÂeries in Israel’s Hula Valley, with the potenÂtial to spread to the Olive Oil region in the Lower Galilee. EPPO has shared this inforÂmaÂtion on its webÂsite to aid in trackÂing and conÂtainÂing the pathogen, which can be transÂmitÂted by insects and affect a wide range of plant species.
The notoÂriÂous crop waistÂing scourge, Xylella fasÂtidiosa has been detected in Israel. The pathogen is conÂfined to Almond nursÂeries in the Hula Valley but stands poised to creep south to the Lower Galilee’s Olive Oil region.
EPPO (an interÂgovÂernÂmenÂtal orgaÂniÂzaÂtion responÂsiÂble for coopÂerÂaÂtion in plant health within the Euro-Mediterranean region) made the inforÂmaÂtion availÂable on its webÂsite recently as part of the ongoÂing effort to help track and conÂtain Xylella.
The pathogen transÂmits its destrucÂtive effect from host plants via insects and conÂsidÂerÂing that the Lower Galilee is but a scant hour’s drive; it is more than posÂsiÂble for the merÂciÂless disÂease to spread there.
How the pathogen first arrives in the Hula Valley is as yet unknown. Fortunately, no almond leaves samÂpled from outÂside the Hula Valley have tested posÂiÂtive so far and the olive groves have also escaped infecÂtion so far. The nursÂeries in the region remain on high alert conÂsidÂerÂing the pathogen can afflict any of 100 plant species worldÂwide.