The possible role of oleander in the epidemiology of Xylella fastidiosa in the Salento peninsula

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a host of different genotypes of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) including the CoDiRO strain, which is associated with the quick decline syndrome of olive (OQDS) in the Salento peninsula, and was shown by MLST analysis to belong to the subspecies pauca, The CoDiRO strain, however, is molecularly distinct from the Xf pauca isolate reported from coffee and citrus, of which oleander is not a host.