Bexyl Project

How can botanical gardens support cutting-edge plant health research and bridge the gap between scientists and the public?

In our latest interview recorded during the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Lara Salido (Botanic Gardens Conservation International - BGCI, WP9 Co-Leader and Coordinator of the International Plant Sentinel Network) highlights the unique role botanic gardens play in the fight against Xylella fastidiosa.

WP9 demonstrates how diverse global stakeholders contribute to disease surveillance and public awareness:

Global Sentinel Network: Leveraging curated, highly documented living collections in botanic gardens across Europe, Central, and South America to sample plants and map plant-pathogen relationships under standardized protocols.

Early Warning Capacity: Utilizing the global network as an early warning system to identify potential host vulnerabilities before pathogens spread to new regions.

Education & Public Awareness: Serving as active outreach hubs that connect scientific research directly with citizens through tailored educational kits on biosecurity and plant health.

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrating how large research consortia can effectively integrate scientific, institutional, and public-facing partners into a unified plant protection strategy.

Watch the full interview to learn how global botanical networks are helping safeguard plant health.

How do we measure the broader consequences of Xylella fastidiosa beyond crop damage alone?

In our latest interview recorded during the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Harry Marshall (Forestry Commission Research Agency, Acting WP8 Leader) outlines how Work Package 8 evaluates the social, ecological, economic, and policy dimensions of the pathogen and its management across Europe.

WP8 integrates multidisciplinary research to guide holistic decision-making:

Policy Analysis: Mapping and analyzing how different European countries have structured their regulatory and containment responses to Xylella fastidiosa.

Social Dynamics & Stakeholder Preferences: Examining public and farmer attitudes toward disease management to align control strategies with community expectations and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.

Ecological Impact Assessment: Evaluating the environmental effects of both the disease and containment measures—revealing, for example, how strict eradication protocols in almond orchards can negatively affect soil health.

Economic Modeling: Comparing management scenarios with and without IPM, demonstrating that integrated management minimizes yield losses while reflecting strong preferences from both growers and citizens.

As WP8 findings demonstrate, a one-size-fits-all approach to managing Xylella fastidiosa cannot succeed. Effective long-term control requires balancing social, economic, ecological, and policy factors across all affected and at-risk regions.

Watch the full interview to learn more about shaping sustainable plant health policies.

How can we bridge scientific research and real-world field management to combat Xylella fastidiosa across Europe?

In our latest interview recorded during the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Gianni Gilioli (University of Brescia, WP7 Leader) outlines how Work Package 7 is converting experimental knowledge into concrete tools that mitigate the impacts of the disease.

WP7 integrates findings across multiple disciplines to support decision-makers, growers, and public authorities:

Predictive Modeling & Risk Assessment: Utilizing mathematical models to evaluate risks and forecast system dynamics, helping managers optimize the timing and location of interventions.

Cultivar Resistance & Disease Containment: Testing resistant olive cultivars in Apulia to reduce disease progression and limit bacterial spread both within individual plants and across affected areas.

Integrated Biological Control: Evaluating soil-applied entomopathogenic fungi against vectors, alongside innovative tools like bacteriophages, synthetic peptides, and bacterial consortia.

Decision Support System (DSS): Synthesizing project-wide knowledge into a web-based, open-access Decision Support System. This tool provides tailored Integrated Pest Management (IPM) schemes—covering prevention, intervention, and monitoring—to help users choose the most effective strategy for their specific local conditions.

Watch the full interview to learn how data and technology are turning scientific evidence into actionable management tools.




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Can beneficial bacteria, plant peptides, and viruses protect crops against Xylella? 🦠🌿⚡

In our latest interview, Emilio Montesinos (Univ. of Girona) presents the breakthroughs of BeXyl’s Work Package 6!

WP6 is pioneering non-antibiotic, sustainable tools for plant protection:

🦠 Bacterial Consortia: Inoculants for self-protecting plants.
🌿 Botanical Extracts: Natural Eucalyptus oil compounds.
🧬 Synthetic Peptides: Defense-boosting and antibacterial proteins.
🧫 Bacteriophages: Natural viruses attacking Xylella.

Currently undergoing field trials in Mallorca & Bari, these tools aim to deliver self-protected nursery plants for a more resilient future! 🌾

Watch the full interview for details! 🎥👇

How can we protect European crops from Xylella fastidiosa while reducing reliance on chemical treatments? 🌿🔬

In this double interview recorded at the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Domenico Bosco (University of Turin, WP5 Leader) and Enrique Quesada-Moraga (University of Córdoba, WP5 Co-Leader) share the major achievements of Work Package 5.

WP5 focuses on environmentally and economically sound solutions to control insect vectors and disrupt disease transmission through innovative, nature-backed tools:

🧫 Entomopathogenic Fungi: Testing native fungal strains from olive groves against vector nymphs and adults.
🌱 Endophytic Action: Using fungi inside plants to disrupt vector feeding behavior and transmission.
🦟 Biological Control: Exploring native natural enemies, egg parasitoids, and insect viruses.
🌾 Ground Cover Management: Evaluating plant species to naturally lower vector densities in orchards.

Watch the full interview to learn more! 🎥👇

Can resistant plants safeguard the future of European agriculture against Xylella fastidiosa? 🌿🧬🛡️

This interview features Ofir Bahar (Volcani Institute / ARO, Israel) explaining how BeXyl’s Work Package 4 is leveraging genomics and breeding to combat plant disease.

In this video, Ofir highlights how WP4 is turning genetic resistance into a powerful long-term solution:
• Identifying Resistant Cultivars: Searching for new resistant varieties in olives, almonds, and other host crops—building on proven cases like the Leccino olive cultivar in Italy. 🌳

• Genomics-Assisted Breeding: Utilizing advanced genomic tools to screen germplasm and accelerate the development of new, resilient crop varieties. 🧬

• Global Impact: Developing resistant plants to give farmers effective tools to manage outbreaks across Europe and beyond. 🌍🌾

Watch the video to learn how science and genetic innovation are helping build a more resilient future for agriculture! 🎥👇