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The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa has just been detected for the first time on two olive trees in France. Its presence represents a " health threat to the plant sector, " according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Xylella fastidiosa was spotted on two ornamental olive trees in the Alpes-Maritimes, in south-eastern France. The trees producing olives are for the moment healthy. But this discovery is alarming and the Ministry of Agriculture takes it very seriously.
First appearance in Corsica
The two contaminated olive trees will be destroyed, to prevent the spread of the disease. Other measures have already been taken: the bacteria-sensitive plants will be quickly torn out and the surveillance of all other plants will be strengthened within a radius of 5 kilometers. Detection of the bacteria in France is not new. It first appeared in 2015 on myrtle leaves in Corsica .
One of the two cases detected is related to the same bacterium as that which is present in Italy , where Xylella fastidiosa has wreaked havoc in olive trees since 2013. An international fight has been started, but the European Commission considers that Italy has not put in place sufficient measures to prevent the spread of the bacteria, which attacks trees that are sometimes millennia old.
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Xylella is considered one of the most dangerous bacteria for plants worldwide. The Xylella fastidiosa, transmitted by insects, attacks more than 200 species of plants: olive trees, vines, fruit trees, ash trees, oaks, alfalfa, oleander, etc. Until now, it has never was found in France on olive trees, but was present on other plants on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, and in 19 towns of the Var and Alpes-Maritimes (south-east), recalls the ministry.