As reported by Olimerca, a new treatment composed of zinc, copper and citric acid has shown to have an ability to mitigate the impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on the olive tree, and this has been proven in Puglia (Italy).
The study has been published in the scientific journal Pathogens, and in it a team of researchers has evaluated the effects of the patented compound both in the field and in vitro. Specifically, as published by Olive Oil Times, this compound has been shown to be effective against three strains of Xylella, including the subspecies Pauca (Xfp), which has spread widely in Puglia.
Its bactericidal properties have also been demonstrated in in vitro experiments, inhibiting the formation of biofilms, essential for the development of the three Xylella strains tested.
To study the effects of the control strategy, two olive groves in the most infected areas, the Salento region (southern Puglia), were monitored for three and four years, respectively, with molecular diagnostic PCR tests as the main evaluation tool.
The researchers evaluated the field symptoms and Xylella DNA concentrations in the trees in which the treatment was used. The protocol strategy did not aim to eradicate the bacteria from the territory, but to increase the resistance of the olive trees after being infected by the pathogen.