A new variant of the Xylella
fastidiosa plant pathogen, which has been killing olive trees in
southern Italy after first being detected here in 2013, has been
found in the province of Bari town of Triggiano, Puglia Regional
Agriculture Chief Donato Pentassuglia told ANSA on Thursday.
Pentassuglia said the new variant, named 'Xylella fastidiosa
fastidiosa', had attacked six almond trees and the results of
lab tests had confirmed it was a new form of the pathogen.
He said his department would sign an order for the infected
trees to be cut down on Thursday and for tests to be run on the
plants within a radius of 800 metres.
"This discovery highlights the great job we are doing in Puglia,
leaving nothing to chance and continuing with constant
monitoring," said Pentassuglia.
"We carry out checks at over one hundred sites, and this
discovery is the result of this demanding, but effective, work.
"We must not create alarmism but neither should we lower our
guard.
"We do not yet know whether the variant is more or less
aggressive, whether it is virulent. Research will establish
this.
"But what we must use the utmost caution because the vector can
potentially also affect vines".
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