Two cases of contamination of olive trees by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, known as "olive killer", were detected for the first time in France, in the Alpes-Maritimes, announced Friday the Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture. food. Until now, this bacterium had never been detected in France on olive trees, but was present on other plants in Corsica, the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes, according to the ministry.
Two ornamental olive trees, one in Antibes and Menton, have been identified as carriers of the disease by state services responsible for plant control, the ministry said in a statement. "In accordance with the regulations, the two contaminated olive trees that show symptoms of desiccation will be torn off and destroyed in the next few days to prevent the spread of the disease," the ministry said.
Plant monitoring has been strengthened
The ministry states that it is the subspecies "pauca" of the bacterium that has been identified on the Menton tree. "A control perimeter has been established", including the uprooting of plants susceptible to the bacteria, as well as a reinforced surveillance of all plants within a radius of 5 kilometers.
Xylella fastidiosa is transmitted and carried by insects. It is a potentially deadly bacterium for more than 200 plant species worldwide, for which there is no cure. It was detected for the first time in France in 2015 (in southern Corsica), and is the subject of an international fight in Europe.