Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA periodically updates the database on the host plants of Xylella spp. While previous editions of the database (2015 and 2016) dealt with the species X. fastidiosa only, the new updated database and the related scientific report (EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2018. Scientific report on the update of the Xylella spp. host plant database. EFSA Journal 2018;16(9):5408, 87 pp. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5408) addresses the whole genus Xylella, including therefore both species X. fastidiosa and X. taiwanensis.

The information on host plants of Xylella spp. was retrieved from scientific literature up to November 2017 and from Europhyt notifications up to May 2018. The applied protocol for the extensive literature review, data collection and reporting are described in detail in the scientific report.

The current database includes 561 plant species reported infected by Xylella spp., of which for 312 plant species the infection was determined with at least two different detection methods. These species cover 264 genera in 82 botanical families (152 genera in 61 botanical families when considering only records with at least two different detection methods). Information on tolerant and resistant response of plant varieties to Xylella spp. is also included.

This updated database of Xylella spp. host plants wishes to provide a key tool for risk management, risk assessment and scientific research on this polyphagous bacterial plant pathogen.

The Excel File contains several sheets: the LEGENDA (with extensive description of each table), the full detailed raw data of the Xylella spp. host plant database (sheet “observation”), the list of host plant species, genera and families (sheet “host_species_evaluated”, “host_genus_evaluated” and “host_family_evaluated”), and examples of data extraction (tables 7 to 14, figure 6, Appendices A to D) that are included in the scientific report.

This Version 2, published on 9 January 2019, contains some corrected data compared to the previous version of the Excel file. Geographical coordinates of some records have been adjusted and one additional record belonging to RefID1787 has been added. Moreover, two plant species (Coffea liberica var. dewevrei and Coffea arabica x C. liberica var. dewevrei) were erroneously registered twice in the controlled terminology (and consequently double counted in the previous Excel file).  

Bibliography:

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2018. Scientific report on the update of the Xylella spp. host plant database. EFSA Journal 2018;16(9):5408, 87 pp. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5408