BRIGIT (Xylella)

Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterial disease of plants, it is transmitted by insects to host plants. Xylella can infect more than 500 species of plant causing leaf scorch, wilt, die-back and may lead to plant death. There is no known cure for the disease. Xylella is not currently present in the UK, but there have been devastating outbreaks in Europe.

The BRIGIT project, which ran 2018-2021, studied the geographical range of the insects that might spread Xylella, how the how plants respond to infection, and developing tools for better detection of Xylella in plants and insects. The projects overall aim is for the UK to be better prepared to avoid Xylella being introduced and to respond rapidly and effectively to any outbreaks. BRIGIT is a consortium of 12 organisations across entomology, plant pathology, ecology, epidemiology, genomics, molecular biology and social sciences, led from the John Innes Centre.

The project has four areas of activity:

1. Citizen science, outreach activities, and knowledge exchange to improve awareness of Xylella, its potential impacts and how it spreads
2. Improving our ability to detect Xylella in plants and insect vectors by improving sampling techniques and the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the tests
3. Developing a better understanding of the biology and geography of the xylem-feeding insect species that may spread Xylella in the UK
4. Generating models for local and large-scale dispersal of Xylella via insect vectors and plant trade to imporve biosecurity

Meet the BRIGIT Team