EFSA was asked to update the 2015 EFSA risk assessment on Xylella fastidiosa for the territory of the EU. In particular, EFSA was asked to focus on potential establishment, short-and long-range spread, the length of the asymptomatic period, the impact of X. fastidiosa and an update on risk reduction options. EFSA was asked to take into account the different subspecies and Sequence Types of X. fastidiosa. This was attempted throughout the scientific opinion but several issues with data availability meant that this could only be partially achieved. Models for risk of establishment showed most of the EU territory may be potentially suitable for X. fastidiosa although southern EU is most at risk. Differences in estimated areas of potential establishment were evident among X. fastidiosa subspecies, particularly X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex which demonstrated areas of potential establishment further north in the EU. The model of establishment could be used to develop targeted surveys by Member States. The asymptomatic period of X. fastidiosa varied significantly for different host and pathogen subspecies combinations, for example from a median of approximately 1 month in ornamental plants and up to 10 months in olive, for pauca. This variable and long asymptomatic period is a considerable limitation to successful detection and control, particularly where surveillance is based on visual inspection. Modelling suggested that local eradication (e.g. within orchards) is possible, providing sampling intensity is sufficient for early detection and effective control measures are implemented swiftly (e.g. within 30 days). Modelling of long-range spread (e.g. regional scale) demonstrated the important role of long-range dispersal and the need to better understand this. Reducing buffer zone width in both containment and eradication scenarios increased the area infected. Intensive surveillance for early detection, and consequent plant removal, of new outbreaks is crucial for both successful eradication and containment at the regional scale, in addition to effective vector control. The assessment of impacts indicated that almond and Citrus spp. were at lower impact on yield compared to olive. Although the lowest impact was estimated for grapevine, and the highest for olive, this was based on several assumptions including that the assessment considered only Philaenus spumarius as a vector. If other xylem-feeding insects act as vectors the impact could be different. Since the Scientific Opinion published in 2015, there are still no risk reduction options that can remove the bacterium from the plant in open field conditions. Short-and long-range spread modelling showed that an early detection and rapid application of phytosanitary measures, consisting among others of plant removal and vector control, are essential to prevent further spread of the pathogen to new areas. Further data collection will allow a reduction in uncertainty and facilitate more tailored and effective control given the intraspecific diversity of X. fastidiosa an...

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel updated its pest categorisation of Xylella fastidiosa, previously delivered as part of the pest risk assessment published in 2015. X. fastidiosa is a Gram‐negative bacterium, responsible for various plant diseases, including Pierce's disease, phony peach disease, citrus variegated chlorosis, olive quick decline syndrome, almond leaf scorch and various other leaf scorch diseases. The pathogen is endemic in the Americas and is present in Iran. In the EU, it is reported in southern Apulia in Italy, on the island of Corsica and in the Provence‐Alpes‐Côte d'Azur region in France, as well as in the Autonomous region of Madrid, the province of Alicante and the Balearic Islands in Spain. The reported status is ‘transient, under eradication’, except for the Balearic Islands, Corsica and southern of Apulia, where the status is ‘present with a restricted distribution, under containment’. The pathogen is regulated under Council Directive 2000/29/EC and through emergency measures under http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32015D0789 (as amended http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017D2352). The pest could enter the EU via host plants for planting and via infectious insect vectors. The host range includes hundreds of host species listed in the EFSA host plant database. In the EU, host plants are widely distributed and climatic conditions are favourable for its establishment. X. fastidiosa can spread by movement of host plants for planting and infectious insect vectors. X. fastidiosa is known to cause severe direct damage to major crops including almonds, citrus, grapevines, olives, stone fruits and also forest trees, landscape and ornamental trees, with high impacts. The criteria assessed by the Panel for consideration as a potential Union quarantine pest are met (the pathogen is present in the EU, but it has a restricted distribution and is under official control). X. fastidiosa is not considered as a regulated non‐quarantine pest (RNQP) as the pathogen may spread also via insect vector transmission.

The RNA silencing-suppression properties of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and Beet soil-borne mosaic virus (BSBMV) cysteine-rich p14 proteins have been investigated. Suppression of RNA silencing activities were made evident using viral infection of silenced Nicotiana benthamiana 16C, N. benthamiana agroinfiltrated with green fluorescent protein (GFP), and GF-FG hairpin triggers supplemented with viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) constructs or using complementation of a silencing-suppressor-defective BNYVV virus in Chenopodium quinoa. Northern blot analyses of small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in agroinfiltration tests revealed reduced amounts of siRNA, especially secondary siRNA, suggesting that benyvirus VSR act downstream of the siRNA production. Using confocal laser-scanning microscopy imaging of infected protoplasts expressing functional p14 protein fused to an enhanced GFP reporter, we showed that benyvirus p14 accumulated in the nucleolus and the cytoplasm independently of other viral factors. Site-directed mutagenesis showed the importance of the nucleolar localization signal embedded in a C4 zinc-finger domain in the VSR function and intrinsic stability of the p14 protein. Conversely, RNA silencing suppression appeared independent of the nucleolar localization of the protein, and a correlation between BNYVV VSR expression and long-distance movement was established.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to create and regularly update a database of host plant species of Xylella spp. Complying with an extension of the previous mandate, which now covers the period 2021-2026, the current version of Xylella spp. host plant database updates the previous release dated April 2020. Informative data have been extracted from 86 recent publications retrieved through an extensive literature search. This report is related to the fourth version of the database published in Zenodo in the EFSA Knowledge Junction community, covering articles selected from: a systematic literature review conducted up to 31 December 2020, Europhyt outbreak notifications up to 18 March 2021 and communications from research groups and national authorities. Forty-three new host plant species of X. fastidiosa, identified through the data extracted from the selected publications, have been added to the database. Those plant species were reported as naturally or artificially infected by subsp. fastidiosa, multiplex, pauca or unknown (i.e. not reported in the publication) subspecies of X. fastidiosa. New information on the tolerant/resistant response of plant species or varieties to X. fastidiosa infection is also reported. No additional data were retrieved for X. taiwanensis. This new version of the database includes no update on the number of Sequence Types (STs) identified so far, which remains unchanged. The overall number of Xylella spp. host plants determined with at least two different detection methods or positive with one method (between: sequencing, pure culture isolation) reaches now 385 plant species, 179 genera and 67 families. Such numbers rise to 638 plant species, 289 genera and 87 families if considered regardless of the detection method applied. The database will be issued twice per year, with the aim to provide information and scientific support to risk assessors, risk managers and researchers dealing with Xylella spp.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to create and regularly update a database of host plant species of Xylella spp. The mandate now covers the period 2021-2026 and EFSA is requested to release an update of the database twice per year. The aim of the database is to provide information and scientific support to risk assessors, risk managers and researchers dealing with Xylella spp. This report is related to the fifth version of the database published in Zenodo in the EFSA Knowledge Junction community, covering literature published from 1 January 2021 up to 30 June 2021, and recent Europhyt outbreak notifications. Informative data have been extracted from 41 selected publications. Nineteen new host plants were identified and added to the database since the previous update published in June 2021. Those plant species were reported naturally infected by subsp. multiplex or unknown (i.e. not reported in the publication) of X. fastidiosa in the UE (France, Spain and Portugal). No additional data were retrieved for X. taiwanensis. New information on the tolerant/resistant response of plant species to X. fastidiosa infection were added, while no new STs have been identified worldwide compared to the previous update published in May 2021. The overall number of Xylella spp. host plants determined with at least two different detection methods or positive with one method (between: sequencing, pure culture isolation) now reaches 407 plant species, 185 genera and 68 families. Such numbers raise to 655 plant species, 293 genera and 88 families if considered regardless of the detection method applied.