France, a new case of Xylella fastidiosa discovered in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region
The prefecture of La Seyne-sur-Mer, in the Var department (Provence, France) has announced today a new outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa. The bacterium was identified on a myrtle-leaf milkwort (Polygala myrtifolia) shrub. This is the second time that Xylella fastidiosa was detected in La Seyne-sur-Mer.
The infected plant was collected during the surveillance activities carried out within the buffer zone, located 10 km around the first outbreak detected on this municipality at the end of 2015. On this occasion, 27 samples were taken from 8 plant species susceptible to the bacteria. Only one plant resulted positive.
The prefecture has announced that an epidemiological investigation to determine the origin of the milkwort plant and the date of its planting is currently underway. Since the beginning of the epidemic, thirteen cases of Xylella fastidiosa were discovered in PACA region, including 11 in the Alpes-Maritimes and two in the Var.
Photo courtesy: PASCAL POCHARD CASABIANCA AFP
