The demarcated area in mainland Spain expands after new detections of Xylella in almond trees
On 31 August, the Regional Government of Comunitat Valenciana confirmed new detections of Xylella fastidiosa in Alicante province, where two foci were already reported. A total of 26 almond orchards were positive for X. fastidiosa during the ongoing surveys conducted by the Plant Health Authority of Comunitat Valenciana. Out of these additional 26 orchards positive for X. fastidiosa, 23 are within the demarcated area of Marina Baixa district in the Alicante Province. The other three positive orchards are located about 4 km away from the border of the demarcated area, in the municipalities of Balones and Alcalalí. To date, the pathogen has been detected in ten municipalities in the Alicante province.
According to the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789, the demarcated area has been expanded after these new positives, covering now about 110,000 ha and 72 municipalities where intensive samplings are being conducted and specific provisions for the nurseries are implemented. Likewise, insecticide spraying and removal of host plants within a 100-m radius around the new foci will continue.
These new findings have been confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory for Phytopathogenic Bacteria at Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA) and officially communicated to the Ministry of Agriculture in Spain and the European Commission.
