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An olive tree infected with the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, transmitted from tree to tree by an insect, in the Italian town of Alessano, in Puglia, on April 20, 2018. VINCENZO PINTO / AFP

It is called Xylella fastidiosa, and it is a deadly bacterium for olive trees: it is considered one of the most dangerous for plants in the world. This bacterium has been detected on species in southeastern France. In Corsica, where the bacterium is already causing damage, olive growers are worried and demand the stop of imports of these trees.

The Corsican olive oil producers denounced Monday 9 September the lack of precaution of the French authorities, after the detection of the bacterium on two olive trees in Antibes.

According to Sandrine Marfisi, the president of the Interprofessional Union of Olive Growers of Corsica (SIDOC), Xylella fastidiosa is already attacking olive trees. She argues that the extent of the disease is underestimated, especially because it is wrongly mistaken for the effects of drought.

For this manager, the best way to stop the appearance of the bacteria is to stop all plant imports into Corsica and support the local production of olive trees. After years of low production and calamitous harvests, the profession is suffering on the continent. It resumes however in Corsica.

Since the beginning of 2019, about 10,000 olive trees have been imported to the island under a waiver granted by the prefecture, " even though a production chain [exists] ", according to the Sidoc, which federates 123 oil producers.

In April 2018, olive trees adorning the roundabouts of territorial roads of Corsica had been tested positive for Xylella fastidiosa by INRA on samples taken by Sidoc. However, these tests were then contradicted by other official analyzes conducted by ANSES.

Identified in Apulia, southern Italy , in 2013, the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa was spotted on ornamental plants in Corsica in 2015, and the same year in Nice and Mandelieu-La Napoule (Alpes-Maritimes).

For the first time, its appearance on two olive trees in France was officially announced Friday, September 6th . Considered one of the most dangerous for plants worldwide, the bacterium is transmitted by very common insects, and attacks more than 200 species.