Almond witches’ broom phytoplasma: situation in Lebanon

Almond witches’ broom phytoplasma (AlmWB) associated disease was localized mainly in North Lebanon where it became epidemic, and in two other villages one in the South and one in the Bekaa region. Then it spread to the other districts. The recent survey showed that AlmWB caused epidemics on almond, peach and nectarine and became more widespread: it was detected in 16 districts out of a total of 26, extending from extreme North to extreme South. Promising preliminary results on eradication were already obtained in Sarada plain, South Lebanon, where the farmers responded rapidly and the disease was apparently eradicated from that region within three years. In the North, AlmWB eradication will start from the periphery of infested areas towards the inside, the reason is to prevent further spread into new areas. Since the North of Lebanon was considered the epidemic centers of AlmWB in Lebanon, studies may be conducted on alternate hosts, on identification of the disease vector(s) using molecular tools and bioassays, and on evaluation of possible sources of resistance.