About the pest
- a bacterium that lives in the water conducting vessels (xylem) of plants
- plants show symptoms of water stress, such as leaf scorch, and the plant progressively weakens and dies
- can be transmitted in infected propagation material and by leafhoppers such as the exotic glassy-winged sharpshooter
- present in North America, Central America and some regions of South America. It is present in a restricted range in Italy, Iran and Taiwan, and is under eradication in some other countries in Europe. View a world distribution map.
- the diseases caused by Xylella fastidiosa go by a range of names depending on the host species, including: Pierce’s disease, almond leaf scorch, bacterial leaf scorch, citrus variegated chlorosis, olive quick decline and olive leaf scorch.
More information
Xylella fastidiosa (Department of Agriculture)
Xylella fastidiosa (Plant Health Australia)