Holiday plant souvenirs may bring disease

The latest invasive threat to the Island’s environment is xylella fastidiosa – one of the most harmful plant disease-causing bacteria in the world.

While insects can transport the bacteria, Environment fears that the most likely way that the disease would reach Jersey is through plants being brought in by people returning from holiday in Europe.

The bacteria can live on more than 200 different species of trees and bushes, including many that grow in local gardens, such as hebe, lavender and rosemary as well as oaks and sycamores. The bacteria also attacks grape vines, as well as peach and citrus trees and olives.

Xylella fastidiosa causes browning, dieback [the progressive death of twigs and branches which generally starts at the tips], and eventually, death. As the bacteria spreads by ‘jumping’ from species to species, the only way to control an outbreak is to destroy all plants within 200 metres from an outbreak.

Scott Meadows, Environment’s head of plant health, warns that if Xylella fastidiosa got a hold in Jersey, the consequences could be very damaging to the Island’s landscape.

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