In 2013, a severe disease of olive termed Olive Quick Decline Syndrome was described in the Salento peninsula, the southern part of Apulia, Italy. Soon after the initial investigations revealed that the genotype ST53 of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca was associated to this severe disorder. is was the first outdoor outbreak of X. fastidiosa in the Old Continent. e bacterium is regulated as quarantine pest for EU and currently listed as priority pest in the EU plant health regime. e complex epidemiology of the disease caused by X. fastidiosa, prompted research investigations targeted on the Apulian outbreak for the implementing efficient control strategies to face this new outbreak. Knowledge on the genetics and biology of the strain associated to the infections, the host range and host susceptibility, and identifying insect vectors, were the top priorities of the research program established soon after the emergence of this outbreak. e local research teams throughout an intense and collaborative network of investigations, produced in short time an impressive amount of scientific data, which allowed to fill some of the initial knowledge gaps, to gather promising results in the diagnosis of the pathogen in olive, to approach the control of the main vector Philaenus spumarius, and to start research programs aiming at the identification of resistance traits in olives. Despite this relevant scientific advances, the management of the epidemic in Apulia encountered strong opposition in the application of the containment measures, including a massive communication campaign based on misleading scientific information, promoting social and cultural opposition. ese aspects need to be critically analyzed to prevent their reiteration in the future.
Il disseccamento rapido dell'olivo è stato descritto per la prima volta nel 2013 in Puglia, in oliveti della zona sud-occidentale della penisola salentina. La malattia, rapidamente diffusasi nell'area, è associata alla presenza del genotipo ST53 di Xylella fastidiosa sottospecie pauca, un batterio da quarantena ritrovato per la prima volta in Europa e attualmente inserito tra i 20 organismi più importanti dei programmi di sorveglianza fitosanitaria a livello europeo. Il quadro fitosanitario si presentava complesso e in gran parte sconosciuto, richiedendo una urgente caratterizzazione degli aspetti biologici ed epidemiologici, indispensabili per la definizione e la messa in atto di efficaci azioni di contrasto. In particolare, trattandosi di un patogeno polifago e trasmesso da insetti vettori, era necessario definirne le caratteristiche genetiche e la virulenza/suscettibilità per l'olivo e altre specie coltivate presenti nell'areale, conoscere l'epidemiologia della malattia mediante l'identificazione della gamma d'ospiti, dei vettori e del loro ciclo biologico, e studiare le interazioni del batterio con piante e insetti nel contesto ambientale salentino. L'impegno della comunità scientifica, soprattutto quella pugliese, ha permesso di colmare in breve tempo le numerose lacune e di definire una strategia di contrasto all'avanzata del batterio sul territorio, fondata sullo sviluppo di strumenti e protocolli di diagnosi, sul controllo del principale vettore Philaenus spumarius, e avviando un programma di ricerca di germoplasma olivicolo resistente che ha portato primi importanti risultati e le basi per la rinascita dell'olivicoltura salentina. Oltre agli aspetti epidemiologici e fitopatologici la malattia degli olivi pugliesi ha fatto emergere grosse criticità, di natura comunicativa, culturale e sociologica che hanno fortemente ostacolato la gestione ed il contenimento dell'epidemia, i cui risvolti richiedono una approfondita analisi per evitare in futuro il loro reiterarsi.
Il contributo della ricerca italiana alla sfida fitosanitaria del III millennio: Xylella fastidiosa e la minaccia per l'olivicoltura mediterranea
Saponari M;Saldarelli P;Boscia D
2021
Abstract
In 2013, a severe disease of olive termed Olive Quick Decline Syndrome was described in the Salento peninsula, the southern part of Apulia, Italy. Soon after the initial investigations revealed that the genotype ST53 of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca was associated to this severe disorder. is was the first outdoor outbreak of X. fastidiosa in the Old Continent. e bacterium is regulated as quarantine pest for EU and currently listed as priority pest in the EU plant health regime. e complex epidemiology of the disease caused by X. fastidiosa, prompted research investigations targeted on the Apulian outbreak for the implementing efficient control strategies to face this new outbreak. Knowledge on the genetics and biology of the strain associated to the infections, the host range and host susceptibility, and identifying insect vectors, were the top priorities of the research program established soon after the emergence of this outbreak. e local research teams throughout an intense and collaborative network of investigations, produced in short time an impressive amount of scientific data, which allowed to fill some of the initial knowledge gaps, to gather promising results in the diagnosis of the pathogen in olive, to approach the control of the main vector Philaenus spumarius, and to start research programs aiming at the identification of resistance traits in olives. Despite this relevant scientific advances, the management of the epidemic in Apulia encountered strong opposition in the application of the containment measures, including a massive communication campaign based on misleading scientific information, promoting social and cultural opposition. ese aspects need to be critically analyzed to prevent their reiteration in the future.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
