Oral Presentations

Significance of xylem feeding in orchards and vineyards in Germany Markheiser A.* and Maixner M. *JKI, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg (DE) Abstract: In the frame of the European XFActors-project, a study is carried out on the presence, host affiliation and life history of xylem feeding Auchenorrhyncha in Germany. The objective of this work is to acquire data on the potential risk posed by those species for the establishment and spread of X. fastidiosa under central European conditions. While the most likely pathway of the pathogen into this region are infected ornamental plants it has to switch to woody plants to survive cold winter conditions and get established in permanent reservoir plants. Special emphasis is therefore placed on polyphagous xylem-feeding species common in relevant cultures like orchards and vineyards, their host affiliation throughout the vegetation period and their feeding behavior on both herbaceous and woody hosts. The results of this study will improve the knowledge on potential vectors of X. fastidiosa in Central Europe and support rational risk analyses for the establishment of the pathogen in this environment. Results of the first season of the study will be presented.

Acknowledgment This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N. 727987 “Xylella fastidiosa Active Containment Through a multidisciplinary-Oriented Research Strategy XF-ACTORS”.

The distribution and phenology of five potential vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in Belgium Hasbroucq S., Bragard C., Casarin N., Czwienczek E. and Grégoire J. C.* *Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles (BE) Abstract: The distribution and phenology of five potential vectors of X. fastidiosa in Belgium (Cercopis vulnerata; Cicadella viridis; Philaenus spumarius; alni; Aphrophora salicina) have been analysed by field surveys, a systematic search in the collections of the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences and a review of a Belgian online faunistic database, Observations.be. The five species are present and often abundant in all the sites visited. The adults of C. vulnerata are only briefly present in May, whilst the adults of the other species have a more protracted presence. All species except C. viridis are univoltine. All species except C. vulnerata overwinter as eggs. The significance of these results regarding the epidemiology of X. fastidiosa, should it enter Belgium, is discussed.

Bibliography EFSA PLH Panel (EFSA Panel on Plant Health), 2015. Scientific Opinion on the risks to plant health posed by X. fastidiosa in the EU territory, with the identification and evaluation of risk reduction options. EFSA Journal 2015;13 (1):3989, 262 pp., doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2015.3989

Potential vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in the United Kingdom

Malumphy C.* and Reid S. *Fera Science Limited, York (UK) Abstract: The bacterium X. fastidiosa resides in plant xylem tissues and Auchenorrhyncha bugs () that feed on the xylem are potential vectors. Knowledge of these potential vectors is essential for developing risk assessments, contingency plans and management options. A review of potential vectors in the UK identified 18 species in four families ( 9 spp.; Cercopididae 1 sp.; Cicadellidae 7 spp.; and Cicadidae 1 sp.). However the situation is more complicated as phloem- feeders, such as species of the subfamily Deltocephalinae, can occasionally consume from, or at least be in contact with, xylem tissues and take up the bacterium, although none have been shown to be vectors (Elbeaino et al., 2014; Pompon et al., 2011). In Europe only Philaenus spumarius (meadow

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