Managing <i>Xylella fastidiosa</i> in Europe: Exploring Biocontrol Strategies

X. fastidious is a plant pathogenic bacterium classified as a quarantine organism in Europe, transmitted by insect vectors and capable of colonizing the xylem of various plant species, either as a pathogen or an endophyte. It has caused severe outbreaks globally and has recently emerged as a threat in several Mediterranean regions, raising concerns about its potential spread into northern Europe. A key challenge with X. fastidious is its adaptability to diverse pathosystems, enabling it to thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions and more than 600 plant hosts worldwide, making its spread highly unpredictable. This complexity makes it more challenging to assess its potential impact in areas where it has yet to be detected. However, identifying potential pathosystems in these regions is crucial for developing prevention and early detection strategies, as there are no effective curative treatments currently available. This work describes the pathogen and investigates its impact in Europe and the effectiveness of the current management practices. These include quarantine measures, control of insect vectors, or use of tolerant cultivars, and new leads to several studies beginning to characterize the microbiome diversity of crops infected by X. fastidious.