Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – Systematic literature search up to 31 December 2024

Abstract

This scientific report provides an update of the Xylella spp. host plant database, aiming to provide information and scientific support to risk assessors, risk managers and researchers dealing with Xylella spp. Upon a mandate of the European Commission, EFSA created and regularly updates a database of host plant species of Xylella spp. The current mandate covers the period 2021–2026. This report is related to the twelfth version of the database published in Zenodo in the EFSA Knowledge Junction community, covering literature published from 1 July 2024 up to 31 December 2024 and recent Europhyt outbreak notifications. Informative data have been extracted from 41 selected publications. Fourteen new host plants were identified and added to the database. These plant species were naturally infected by X. fastidiosa, X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex or X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa in the United States, Italy, Portugal and Spain. No additional data were retrieved for X. taiwanensis and no additional multilocus sequence types (STs) were identified worldwide. New information on the tolerant/resistant response of plant species to X. fastidiosa infection were added to the database. The Xylella spp. host plant species were listed in different categories based on the number and type of detection methods applied for each finding. The overall number of Xylella spp. host plants determined with at least two different detection methods or positive with one method (between sequencing and pure culture isolation (category A)), reaches now 463 plant species, 210 genera and 71 families. Such numbers rise to 727 plant species, 319 genera and 91 families if considered regardless of the detection methods applied (category E).