EFSA Plants

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: EU priority pest Spodoptera frugiperda . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Training course on Plant health surveillance for improving Crisis preparedness in Plant Health promoted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in collaboration with academic experts

Webinar#Spodopterafrugiperda#
24th March 2026
10:00 - 11:00 CET
Save the date! 📅
The webinar will be streamed via Zoom, recorded and made available to the public through EFSA's official channels after the sessions. Registration link below👇
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Two #PestSurveyCard are now available on nematodes of the Xiphinema americanum group:
➡️ link.europa.eu/jQk6pY
➡️ link.europa.eu/DYQBTB

These pests can transmit #viruses that are also regulated, see: bsky.app/profile/efsa...

@son-nemaweb.bsky.social
@eurl-ppns.bsky.social
@agricoedu.bsky.social

Latest Xylella control options reviewed – have your say! The draft analyses show that EU‑approved synthetic active substances currently demonstrate the most consistent effects in reducing vector survival, while a wide range of biological, non‑synthetic acti...

Latest #Xylella control options reviewed – have your say!

Our new draft scientific opinions cover direct vector control strategies, experimental treatments in plants, and other risk reduction measures.

Public consultation open until 10 April 2026.

link.europa.eu/PHhCQN

Surveys of viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas of fruit crops Updated 30 January 2026 (Version 1). Taxonomy: phytoplasmas, viruses, viroids (AFCVD0, APLPV0, APNMV0, BLMOV0, CRLV00, CRMAV0, CRV000, CTLAV0, GINV00, GRBAV0, GVCV00, PCMV00, PHYP07, PHYP64, PHYPAU, P...

📢New EFSA Pest Survey Cards: Surveillance of regulated #viruses, #viroids and #phytoplasmas of Cydonia, Fragaria, Malus, Prunus, Pyrus, Ribes, Rubus and Vitis in the EU

Here is the guide for using these pest survey cards🍎🍏:
link.europa.eu/TTpgVh

#PlantHealth #PestSurveyCard #SurveillanceNetwork

The #PestSurveyCard on Diabrotica undecimpunctata undecimpunctata and Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi is now available!
➡️ link.europa.eu/XVKmCp

EFSA ranked Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi among the EU candidate #PriorityPests:
➡️ bsky.app/profile/efsa...

@coleopsoc.bsky.social

Symptoms of melon yellowing-associated virus on melon plants. (a) Yellowing of leaves of field-grown plant. (b) Mottling and yellowing (arrows) on leaves of graft-inoculated plant. (c) Mature stage of yellowing symptom on leaves of inoculated plant (Source: Nagata et al., 2010, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-010-0241-6).

📢New EFSA Pest survey card🔍

📖 The pest survey card on Melon yellowing-associated virus (MYaV) is now available.

It supports surveillance and early detection efforts to help protect plant health across the EU. 🌱

➡️ link.europa.eu/HWgq3H

#PlantHealth #PestSurveyCard #SurveillanceNetwork

Thank you for informing us! This host-pathogen association is coming from EPPO Global Database. We will share your work with them and keep updated with the latest version.

The #PestSurveyCard on Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum is now available!
➡️ link.europa.eu/VhvHdX

EFSA assessed this pathogen as a EU candidate #PriorityPests:
➡️ bsky.app/profile/efsa...

@apsbacteriology.bsky.social
@tlowepower.bsky.social
@isabellemila.bsky.social
@ibws2026.bsky.social

Symptoms and signs (pycnidia) caused by Phyllosticta spp. on leaves: A) tan spots with darker brown border, caused by Phyllosticta sp. on pawpaw (Asimina triloba) leaves; (B) leaf lesions with pycnidia of P. cotoneaster on Cotoneaster sp. Similar symptoms and signs are caused by P. solitaria on its hosts. Apple blotch symptoms caused by Phyllosticta arbutifolia, a taxon closely related to P. solitaria, on Malus domestica fruits: (C) blotchy lesions with pycnidia (red arrows), (D) reddish to brown blotches. (Sources: Source: Paul Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, Bugwood.org (A, B, D); Cheryl Kaiser, University of Kentucky, Bugwood.org (D)).

📢The Pest Survey Card on #Phyllosticta solitaria is now live!

🔎Discover our interactive #StoryMap and gain insights into detection and delimiting surveys for this pest: link.europa.eu/VCvWj8

🌱 #PlantHealth #PestSurveyCard #SurveillanceNetwork

The ecology of insect vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in EU table grape outbreaks project officially kicked off today at the @efsa.europa.eu. A collaboration between UNIBA, CNR, with UC Berkeley contributing to the transmission experiments to better understand vector efficiency and epidemiology.🍇🌿

Sunlit forest with overlay text: “Panel on Plant Health – 18 February 2026” and EFSA #OpenEFSA branding.

Graphic titled “Quote of the Day” with a portrait of Antonio Vicent Civera, Chair of the PLH Panel, alongside a quote about endorsing two scientific opinions on Xylella fastidiosa to strengthen evidence for vector management and in-plant control measures.

Graphic summarising PLH plenary highlights: updates on Xylella fastidiosa control, host plant database, vector control, 2026 conference, 139th PLH meeting, 198 observers, and a half‑day online session.

Graphic highlighting other plenary discussions: 4 topics discussed and 2 outputs endorsed.

🔬 Missed the 139th Plenary Meeting of the Scientific Panel on Plant Health (PLH)?

👇 Catch up on the key highlights and discussions from our latest Open Session.

#OpenEFSA #PlantHealth | @efsa-plants.bsky.social

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: EU priority pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Training course on Plant health surveillance for improving Crisis preparedness in Plant Health promoted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in collaboration with academic experts

Webinar#Thaumatotibia leucotreta#
24th February 2026, 10:00 - 11:00 CET Save the date! 📅 The webinar will be streamed via Zoom, recorded and made available to the public through EFSA's official channels after the sessions. Registration link below👇
gmail.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?...

Ring rot symptoms of Botryosphaeria dothidea on apples; similar symptoms are also caused by B. kuwatsukai (Source: University of Georgia Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org)

📖🔎 Have you explored the #EFSA Pest Survey Card gallery yet?

New Story Maps are now available — including one on Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai, a pathogen affecting apple and pear trees 🍎🍐

🔗 link.europa.eu/3wmR3g

#PlantHealth #PestSurveyCard #SurveillanceNetwork

Adult of Sternochetus mangiferae. Source: Juliana Cardona-Duque, University of Puerto Rico, Bugwood.org

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) tree. Source: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

#Sternochetus mangiferae feeds on #mangoes. Infested fruits can be identified by opening the seed longitudinally 🥭

🔎Learn more on the EFSA pest survey card: link.europa.eu/VxwvfJ

#PlantHealth #PestSurveyCard #SurveillanceNetwork

Daria Rzepecka presented ‘From expert knowledge to practice: developing surveillance guidelines for priority pests in the European Union’ at the Conference of Plant Protection in Poland, highlighting the application of scientific expertise to operational pest surveillance.

Conference on Plant Protection

Tomasz Kaluski presented a talk on “Methods and Tools for Statistically Sound, Risk-Based Surveys of Quarantine Pests”. Combining statistical methods with practical solutions, he showcased how EFSA supports Member States in securing Plant Health in EU.

Behind every EFSA scientist was once a girl curious about the world.

Today, on #WomenInScience Day, we celebrate their paths, from early wonder to leading research that protects Europe’s food and environment.

Here’s to the women advancing science every day. ✨

#IDWGIS #STEM

Swollen, infected cone of Pinus spp. by Cronartium strobilinum (Source: USDA Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

(A) Telia of Cronartium coleosporoides on Castilleja sp. leaf; (B) telia of C. comandrae on Comandra sp. leaf; (C) telia of C. occidentale on Ribes sp. leaf; (D) telia of C. quercuum on Quercus sp. leaf (E) close-up view of telia of C. quercuum on Quercus sp. leaf. (Sources: USDA Forest Service – Northern and Intermountain Region, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org (A); USDA Forest Service – Forest Health Protection Intermountain Region – Ogden, UT, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org (B, C); EPPO Global Database, courtesy of Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Quebec, Canada (D, E))

🌿The life cycle of fungi can be very complex

Take non-EU Cronartium spp.: these fungi complete their cycle either on Pinus spp. or on Pinus spp. and dicotyledonous plants.

Learn more about key aspects for EU surveillance:

🔗 link.europa.eu/pP4yJB

#PlantHealth #PestSurveyCard #SurveillanceNetwork

Today and tomorrow we are delivering RiPEST training in Poznań, focusing on delimiting surveys for Popillia japonica. We’re pleased to work closely with inspectors from across Poland and to strengthen the implementation of plant health surveillance tools.

Protocol for the evaluation of emergency authorisations of insecticides and acaricides submitted under Article 53 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 The protocol provides a structured approach for evaluating emergency authorisations of insecticides and acaricides under Article 53 of EU Regulation 1107/2009. It aims to standardise the evaluation o...

Another step towards more sustainable #pest control methods

We published a protocol for standardising evaluations of emergency authorisations of insecticides & acaricides.

It will help ensure approvals are consistent, & that sustainable alternatives are fully considered.

🔗 doi.org/10.2903/sp.e...

📢 EFSA's 5th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa | Registration & abstract submission now open!

🗓️ 22–26 June 2026, Bari (Italy)

Join leading experts to discuss the latest science on detection, epidemiology & sustainable management.

✍️ www.efsa.europa.eu/en/events/5t...

#Xylella #PlantHealth

Feb 3, 2026 📍 University of Bari hosts the KNOWS Project final seminar/workshop on sustainable Xylella fastidiosa control 🦠🌱@efsa.europa.eu
Experts (incl. EFSA @efsa.europa.eu) share latest insights on insect–pathogen–agroecosystem interactions.

"A grove of old, gnarled olive trees with thick, twisted trunks and sparse branches, set in a grassy field under a clear blue sky."

🆕 Update on the #Xylella spp. host plant database

Latest review (up to June 2025):

• 1 new host plant added: 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘦-𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴
• 464 confirmed host plants (Category A)
• No new sequence types
• More data on tolerant & resistant olives

🔗 doi.org/10.2903/j.ef...

#PlantHealth #Science

Innovation in #PlantHealth has the opportunity to be showcased internationally at a high level. Don't miss the chance to take part in the Plant Health Innovation Fair, organised by the IPPC at CPM-20. Applications close at the end of the month bit.ly/4sM2J1R

same information as in the post

📢 Save the date!

We will host the 5th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa:

📍 Bari, Italy
📅 22–26 June 2026

Join researchers & risk managers to discuss latest science and sustainable solutions for plant health.

More at link.europa.eu/WwpXyr

#Xylella #PlantHealth @efsa-plants.bsky.social

Behind every EFSA opinion is teamwork, trust and shared responsibility - even around the fridge.

This festive season, we celebrate collaboration that keeps food safe across Europe.

🎄 From our fridge to yours, happy holidays with safe food.

🎁 Travelling for the holidays?
Some souvenirs carry more than memories. They can carry pests.

Think before you pack:
🌱 Avoid uncertified plants
🍫 Choose packaged, safe gifts
🗣️ Inspire others to share #PlantHealth4Life message

Bring home stories, not pests.

More: www.efsa.europa.eu/en/plh4l