The INTEGROLIV project: a multifaceted approach to mitigate the impact of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca and regenerate olive growing systems in the infected area

Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca (Xfp) is a quarantine phytopathogenic bacterium with xylem localization capable of infecting several plant species, producing severe symptoms. In Europe, Xfp was first reported in 2013 in the Salento peninsula (Apulia Region, IT) where a new biotype of this pathogen (strain ST53) is responsible for rapid olive desiccation. To date, this bacterium has affected millions of trees, generating raising concern for Mediterranean olive growing. The disease spreading is facilitated by i) the conducive climate of the Salento Region, ii) the abundant presence of the main vector (the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius), and iii) the widespread distribution of highly susceptible native olive cultivars (cvs). Currently, quarantine containment measures do not guarantee adequate prevention of new Xfp infections and replanting with resistant cvs contributes only partially to the recovery of olive growing in infected areas. The antibacterial products tested, although sometimes alleviate disease symptoms, show moderate efficacy and fail to eradicate the pathogen from infected plants. A coordinated research effort is therefore necessary to identify and implement more efficient products and strategies to manage the bacterium. In this scenario, the INTEGROLIV project, with a multidisciplinary approach which combine traditional and innovative methods, aims to select, evaluate and transfer to oliviculture new effective products and strategies to be applied through an Integrated Disease Management approach. To elucidate their direct mechanisms of action on the pathogen and their indirect responses of the plant, the most effective control products will also be monitored and studied by advanced molecular and biotechnological tools.