Xylella

Xylella is not present in Australia. It is officially rated as Australia’s number one National Priority Plant Pest.

About the disease

Xylella is a bacterial disease that causes leaf scorch, yellowing and loss of leaves, stunted shoots, reduced fruit size, dieback and eventual death of plants.

Why it is a problem

Xylella is considered one of the world’s most devastating threats to plants causing disease in more than 700 plant species with no known cure.

It invades the water-conducting vessels (xylem) of plants, effectively clogging them with bacteria. This starves the plant of water, causing severe leaf scorch, wilt, dieback, and eventually plant death.

What to look for

Symptoms can easily be confused with water stress, frost and herbicide damage. Look for:

• leaf scorch
• premature loss of leaves and dieback
• yellowing leaves
• reduced fruit size
• fruit failing to ripen
• progressive weakening of the plant/tree and plant death.

How it spreads

Xylella spreads through:

• infected sap-sucking insects: The most common method of transmission in nature. Insects feed on the xylem fluid of an infected plant then transmit it to a healthy plant when they move on to feed.
• movement of plant material: Xylella spreads over long distances primarily when humans trade or move infected plants, budwood, cuttings and rootstock.

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