Abstracts of invited Keynote lectures, Keynote and Oral presentations and Poster papers presented at the 17th Congress of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, July 6–10, 2025, in Bari, Italy

The spread of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53, responsible for Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS), has severely damaged olive cultivation in Salento (Southern Italy), causing dramatic economic and environmental losses. Although the implementation of containment measures reduced the rate of spread of the pathogen, the request of a control tools for infected plants is still urgent, particularly to preserve centuries-old native olive trees, which shape the Apulian landscape. To date, replanting with resistant cultivars remains the most effective strategy to promote the recovery in affected areas. The INTEGROLIV project (D.M. MASAF No. 664829 of 29/12/2022) addresses this crucial challenge by promoting a multidisciplinary and eco-friendly strategy. The project aims to identify, evaluate, and transfer innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of Xylella fastidiosa in infected areas. Selected antibacterial products are being tested in vitro, in greenhouse, and in the field to be successively included into new sustainable management protocols, targeting both the pathogen and its main vector, Philaenus spumarius. Advanced biochemical and molecular- genetic techniques are also employed to investigate the direct and indirect modes of action of the most promising products, with the goal of optimizing their effectiveness and ensuring environmental and economic sustainability. By selecting and validating novel strategies, INTEGROLIV aims to support olive grove regeneration, improve the resilience of traditional cultivars, ensure a sustainable future for olive growing in areas affected by Xylella fastidiosa and contribute to the long-term conservation of the Mediterranean olive agroecosystem.