Almond witches’ broom phytoplasma : disease monitoring and preliminary control measures in Lebanon

A national survey were conducted in Lebanon in 2009/2010 and updated in 2012 in order to detect the Almond witches’ broom disease (AlmWB) spread in the country, as well as preliminary researches about the disease epidemiology and phytoplasma characterization. Over four years of works, Lebanese and Italian efforts were joined to define focus and endemic areas, to discover the phytoplasma vector(s) and to elaborate preliminary management plans. Almond, peach and nectarine were severely affected and the number of infected trees was increasing. The disease, detected in 16 districts out of 26 in 2010, was also confirmed in 2 different districts in 2012; 216 out of 561 monitored villages have been recorded with positive samples collected in stone fruit orchards. The nursery sector was also monitored. Five out of 136 visited nurseries were found selling positive seedlings; a prompt decision from the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture was adopted to destroy all the seedlings. Extension services have been developed for farmer and nurseryman awareness, and a pilot area for tree elimination and replacement was developed. Within the last year, a plan of tree elimination and crop replacement has been implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture to reduce the impact of the disease and to support the rural affected areas.