Xylella fastidiosa in Costa Rica: understanding of the pathogen and containment through collaborative approach

X. fastidiosa is endemic in Costa Rica. Since the 1990´s, the appearance of a milder version of CLS was reported as “crespera” in Costa Rica. It was confirmed that the disease was due to X. fastidiosa infection. Since then, the bacterium has been detected and isolated from more than 20 different economic important crops and ornamentals. Although the bacterium has great potential for disease and it is widespread throughout the country, the symptoms related to infected plants are usually mild or asymptomatic. In 2015, the European Union closed the importation of ornamentals from Costa Rica, alleging that X. fastidiosa was introduced in this matter into Europe, causing great social and economic impact in this activity in Costa Rica. Recently, genomic evidence supports the relatedness of the CoDiRo strains to X. fastidiosa ST53 isolates from Costa Rica. Our participation as part of the PonTE and XFactors research efforts are focused on broadening the genetic and phenotipic information related to our circulating strains, this will contribute to dilucidate some specific traits of the X. fastidiosa strains found in Italy as in other European countries as well. We are also working on alternative containment strategies for the bacteria. Finally, we have established research initiatives related to endusers in collaboration with phytosanitary authorities to determine the host susceptibility to X. fastidiosa of economic important plants such as Phoenix roebelenii