New Biopesticides Prove Effective at Mitigating Symptoms of Xylella
oliveoiltimes
2025.09.20
Three new compounds targeting the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, developed within the European Union-funded Biovexo project, may soon be available for purchase.
Once available, the products fine-tuned by the Biovexo consortium would represent a crucial step towards curtailing the Xylella fastidiosa epidemic.
“Those new biopesticides can not cure the plants that have been infected, as they cannot eliminate the bacterium from an infected olive tree,” Stéphane Compant, Biovexo’s scientific coordinator and a senior scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology, told Olive Oil Times. “Still, some slow down Xylella fastidiosa’s symptoms or reduce insect vector populations.”
“Their application in the field showed that they can relieve the pressure of the bacteria while also supporting the greening of infected olive trees,” he added.
Three new compounds targeting the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, developed within the European Union-funded Biovexo project, may soon be available for purchase.
Once available, the products fine-tuned by the Biovexo consortium would represent a crucial step towards curtailing the Xylella fastidiosa epidemic.
“Those new biopesticides can not cure the plants that have been infected, as they cannot eliminate the bacterium from an infected olive tree,” Stéphane Compant, Biovexo’s scientific coordinator and a senior scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology, told Olive Oil Times. “Still, some slow down Xylella fastidiosa’s symptoms or reduce insect vector populations.”
“Their application in the field showed that they can relieve the pressure of the bacteria while also supporting the greening of infected olive trees,” he added.
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