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Abstract European divorce rates have been rising since the 1970s. Concurrently, as more couples choose cohabitation over marriage, there has also been an increase in separations among cohabiting partners. Nearly 50% of separated individuals form new relationships within five years. These trends may have important implications for fertility research. Are re-partnered women more likely to continue having children than women who have never separated? Do re-partnered women approach fertility decisions differently? Does re-partnering help recover the births 'lost' due to separation? To address these questions, we utilise longitudinal data from 2004 to 2018 across 32 European countries, employing probit models for our analysis. We find that women in higher-order unions are, on average, more likely to have an additional child compared to those who already have children with their current partner. The former group appears less burdened by having more or older children and is less influenced by family income. Predictions from our models indicate that births lost due to union dissolution can only be recovered when re-partnering occurs relatively quickly.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are responsible for endothelial damage displaying many sex differences. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a pathogenic stimulus that can trigger inflammation, contributing to endothelial dysfunction. Given the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of herbal extracts in managing endothelial dysfunction, we considered the (R)-(−)-Linalool (LIN), an aromatic monoterpene alcohol, as a bioactive phytochemical compound that could prevent and improve endothelial injury. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the LIN on LPS-induced damage in female and male human umbilical vein endothelial cells (FHUVECs and MHUVECs), measuring cell viability, cytokines release (IL-6 and TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrites.LPS significantly reduced viability both in MHUVECs and FHUVECs. Moreover, LPS increased the IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA level only in FHUVECs if compared to basal value; despite that, LPS reduced nitrites only in MHUVECs. LIN alone did not affect the parameters measured except for an increase in nitrites in FHUVECs. Nevertheless, LIN reduced damage and restored endothelium viability reduced by LPS without a clear sex difference. Under LPS, LIN inhibited IL-6 release and reduced MDA levels only in FHUVECs.The present data confirm the existence of sex differences in the behavior of HUVECs under LPS conditions. The administration of LIN seems to have a more evident effect on FHUVECs after damage induced by LPS. These LIN effects are important to conduct further well-designed studies on the sex-specific use of this compound on vascular endothelial injury.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces severe land degradation, driven by a combination of human and natural factors. Deforestation, inadequate land management practices, and unsustainable farming methods are the primary causes. The historical trends reveal the impact of soil erosion and nutrient depletion on 70% of the soil and 65% of its total land area. Unchecked degradation poses a critical threat to economic growth and poverty reduction initiatives. The region's food security is intricately linked to the complex interplay between land degradation and a rapidly growing population. Escalating demand for agricultural resources raises concerns about the ability to meet the needs of SSA's population. The adoption of sustainable agricultural intensification practices (SIAP) emerges as a crucial strategy to address land degradation and enhance food security. SIAP involves innovative and ecologically sensitive techniques, such as agroforestry and organic farming, targeting to optimise resource use and minimise negative impacts on soil health. The interconnectedness between factors of land degradation, food security, and the contribution of SIAP underscores the urgency of adopting sustainable practices to ensure a balanced relationship between agricultural productivity and environmental conservation in SSA. While SIAP holds promise, challenges such as socio-economic barriers, low adoption rates, and contextual variations necessitate continuous support and well-designed policies for successful implementation.

Abstract The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to conduct a pest categorisation of Coniella castaneicola (Ellis & Everh) Sutton, following commodity risk assessments of Acer campestre, A. palmatum, A. platanoides, A. pseudoplatanus, Quercus petraea and Q. robur plants from the UK, in which C. castaneicola was identified as a pest of possible concern to the EU. When first described, Coniella castaneicola was a clearly defined fungus of the family Schizoparmaceae, but due to lack of a curated type‐derived DNA sequence, current identification based only on DNA sequence is uncertain and taxa previously reported to be this fungus based on molecular identification must be confirmed. The uncertainty on the reported identification of this species translates into uncertainty on all the sections of this categorisation. The fungus has been reported on several plant species associated with leaf spots, leaf blights and fruit rots, and as an endophyte in asymptomatic plants. The species is reported from North and South America, Africa, Asia, non‐EU Europe and Oceania. Coniella castaneicola is not known to occur in the EU. However, there is a key uncertainty on its presence and geographical distribution worldwide and in the EU due to its endophytic nature, the lack of systematic surveys and possible misidentifications. Coniella castaneicola is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and there are no interceptions in the EU. Plants for planting, fresh fruits and soil and other growing media associated with infected plant debris are the main pathways for its entry into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability in parts of the EU are favourable for the establishment and spread of the fungus. Based on the scarce information available, the introduction and spread of C. castaneicola in the EU is not expected to cause substantial impacts, with a key uncertainty. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent its introduction and spread in the EU. Because of lack of documented impacts, Coniella castaneicola does not satisfy all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user's needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option available.

Oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endogenous antioxidants, plays an important role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s. The human brain is vulnerable to oxidative stress because of the high rate of oxygen that it needs and the high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are substrates of lipid peroxidation. Natural antioxidants inhibit oxidation and reduce oxidative stress, preventing cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, in the literature, it is reported that antioxidants, due to their possible neuroprotective activity, may offer an interesting option for better symptom management, even Parkinson’s disease (PD). Natural antioxidants are usually found in several foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and oil, and in food wastes, such as seeds, peels, leaves, and skin. They can help the system of endogenous antioxidants, protect or repair cellular components from oxidative stress, and even halt lipid, protein, and DNA damage to neurons. This review will examine the extent of knowledge from the last ten years, about the neuroprotective potential effect of natural antioxidants present in food and food by-products, in in vivo and in vitro PD models. Additionally, this study will demonstrate that the pool of dietary antioxidants may be an important tool in the prevention of PD and an opportunity for cost savings in the public health area.

Accurate identification of plant diseases is important for ensuring the safety of agricultural production. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and visual transformers (VTs) can extract effective representations of images and have been widely used for the intelligent recognition of plant disease images. However, CNNs have excellent local perception with poor global perception, and VTs have excellent global perception with poor local perception. This makes it difficult to further improve the performance of both CNNs and VTs on plant disease recognition tasks. In this paper, we propose a local and global feature-aware dual-branch network, named LGNet, for the identification of plant diseases. More specifically, we first design a dual-branch structure based on CNNs and VTs to extract the local and global features. Then, an adaptive feature fusion (AFF) module is designed to fuse the local and global features, thus driving the model to dynamically perceive the weights of different features. Finally, we design a hierarchical mixed-scale unit-guided feature fusion (HMUFF) module to mine the key information in the features at different levels and fuse the differentiated information among them, thereby enhancing the model's multiscale perception capability. Subsequently, extensive experiments were conducted on the AI Challenger 2018 dataset and the self-collected corn disease (SCD) dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed LGNet achieves state-of-the-art recognition performance on both the AI Challenger 2018 dataset and the SCD dataset, with accuracies of 88.74% and 99.08%, respectively.

Abstract Following the EFSA commodity risk assessment of Malus domestica plants imported from Türkiye into the EU, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Pratylenchus loosi (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) for the EU. Pratylenchus loosi belongs to the order Rhabditida, subfamily Pratylenchidae. This nematode is not known to be present in the EU. The species is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. The pest occurs primarily in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas. It is widely distributed in Asian countries, with tea plants (Camellia sinensis) as the main host. The pest was reported from more than 60 plant species, but reports from hosts other than C. sinensis, e.g. citrus (Citrus spp.) and banana (Musa spp.), are associated with high uncertainty due to doubtful pest identification. Morphological and molecular methods are available for the identification of the pest. Pathways of entry are host plants for planting except seeds, as well as soil attached to plants for planting, machinery or footwear. Soil import to the EU is prohibited from third countries. The climatic preferences of P. loosi are compatible with the microclimatic conditions occurring in the areas of the EU where tea is grown outside. The impact of the nematode is primarily known for Asian countries, where it is a devastating pathogen on tea plants, but there is a key uncertainty on impacts on hosts other than tea. Considering the strong pathogenicity of the pest, its establishment in tea producing areas would have negative consequences for tea producers. Therefore, the Panel concludes that P. loosi satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract Following the commodity risk assessments of bonsai plants from China consisting of Pinus parviflora grafted on P. thunbergii performed by EFSA, the EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Pestalotiopsis disseminata, a clearly defined plant pathogenic fungus of the family Pestalotiopsidaceae. The pathogen has been reported on herbaceous, woody and ornamental plants causing symptoms such as leaf blight, shoot blight, seedling blight, pod canker, pre‐ and post‐harvest fruit rot, and gummosis. Moreover, the fungus was reported as an endophyte on a wide range of asymptomatic hosts. The pathogen is present in Africa, North and South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. It has been reported from the EU, with a restricted distribution (Portugal). There is a key uncertainty on the geographical distribution of P. disseminata in the EU and worldwide, because of the endophytic nature of the fungus, the lack of surveys and since the pathogen might have been misidentified based only on morphology and pathogenicity tests. The pathogen is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. This pest categorisation focuses on those hosts that are relevant for the EU and for which there is robust evidence that the pathogen was formally identified by a combination of morphology, pathogenicity and multilocus sequence analysis. Plants for planting, fresh fruits, bark and wood of host plants as well as soil and other plant growing media are the main pathways for the entry of the pathogen into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability factors occurring in parts of the EU are favourable for the establishment of the pathogen. Despite the low aggressiveness observed in most reported hosts, and the fact that P. disseminata may colonise plants as an endophyte, its introduction and spread in the EU may have an economic and environmental impact (with a key uncertainty) where susceptible hosts are grown. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the introduction and spread of the pathogen. The Panel cannot conclude on whether P. disseminata satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest, because of the key uncertainties on the restricted distribution in the EU and the magnitude of the impact.

Abstract Following an EFSA commodity risk assessment of bonsai plants (Pinus parviflora grafted on Pinus thunbergii) imported from China, the EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Pestalotiopsis microspora, a clearly defined plant pathogenic fungus of the family Pestalotiopsidaceae. The pathogen was reported on a wide range of monocotyledonous, dicotyledonous and gymnosperms, either cultivated or wild plant species, causing various symptoms such as leaf spot, leaf blight, scabby canker, fruit spot, pre‐ and post‐harvest fruit rot and root rot. In addition, the fungus was reported as an endophyte on a wide range of asymptomatic plant species. This pest categorisation focuses on the hosts that are relevant for the EU and for which there is robust evidence that the pathogen was formally identified by a combination of morphology, pathogenicity and multilocus sequencing analyses. Pestalotiopsis microspora was reported in Africa, North, Central and South America, Asia and Oceania. In the EU, it was reported in the Netherlands. There is a key uncertainty on the geographical distribution of P. microspora worldwide and in the EU, because of the endophytic nature of the fungus, the lack of surveys, and because in the past, when molecular tools were not fully developed, the pathogen might have been misidentified as other Pestalotiopsis species or other members of the Pestalodiopsidaceae family based on morphology and pathogenicity tests. Pestalotiopsis microspora is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Plants for planting, fresh fruits, bark and wood of host plants as well as soil and other growing media associated with plant debris are the main pathways for the entry of the pathogen into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability in parts of the EU are favourable for the establishment and spread of the pathogen. The introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU are expected to have an economic and environmental impact where susceptible hosts are grown. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU. Unless the restricted distribution in the EU is disproven, Pestalotiopsis microspora satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Hoplolaimus galeatus (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae) for the EU. H. galeatus belongs to the order Rhabditida, subfamily Hoplolaiminae. This nematode is not reported from the EU and is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. It is widely distributed in the USA and is also reported from South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The identity of H. galeatus is clearly defined and methods for its identification are available. H. galeatus is polyphagous and natural hosts include barley, wheat, rye, red and white clover, alfalfa, cabbage, pine, spruce, oak, apple, grapevine, as well as various ornamental plants and turf grasses. These hosts are grown over vast areas of the EU. The climate of the EU is suitable for the establishment of H. galeatus. Pathways of entry are host plants for planting except seeds, but also soil as a contaminant. Soil import to the EU is prohibited and special requirements apply to import of machinery for agricultural/forestry purposes from third countries. Impact of the nematode is best known for North American plant species. The nematode has been reported to damage cotton, maize, soybean, pine, oak and turfgrass. Many of the hosts represent a considerable economic and environmental value to the EU. Therefore, the Panel concludes that H. galeatus satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health conducted a pest categorisation of the avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) for the EU. The identity of ASBVd, a member of the genus Avsunviroid (family Avsunviroidae) is clearly defined and detection and identification methods are available. The pathogen is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. ASBVd has been reported in Australia, Ghana, Guatemala, Israel, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, USA (California, Florida) and Venezuela. In the EU, it has been reported in Greece (Crete Island) and Spain. The pathogen could establish in the EU wherever avocado (Persea americana) is grown. The only known natural host of ASBVd is avocado to which it causes the severe ‘avocado sunblotch’ disease, characterised by white, yellow, red or necrotic depressed areas or scars on the fruit surface, bleached veins and petioles of the leaf, and rectangular cracking patterns in the bark of the old branches. Fruit yield and quality are severely diminished. ASBVd infects under experimental conditions a few more species in the family Lauraceae. The viroid is naturally transmitted at an extremely high rate by seeds (up to 100% in asymptomatically infected trees), but with a low efficiency by pollen (only to the produced seeds), and possibly through root grafts. Plants for planting, including seeds, and fresh avocado fruits were identified as the most relevant pathways for further entry of ASBVd into the EU. Avocado crops are cultivated in southern EU countries. Should the pest further enter and establish in the EU, impact on the production of avocado is expected. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent entry and spread of the viroid in the EU. ASBVd fulfils the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Background: Experimental evidence indicates that Naloxone (NLX) holds antioxidant properties. The present study aims at verifying the hypothesis that NLX could prevent oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in PC12 cells. Methods: To investigate the antioxidant effect of NLX, initially, we performed electrochemical experiments by means of platinum-based sensors in a cell-free system. Subsequently, NLX was tested in PC12 cells on H2O2-induced overproduction of intracellular levels of reactive-oxygen-species (ROS), apoptosis, modification of cells' cycle distribution and damage of cells’ plasma membrane. Results: This study reveals that NLX counteracts intracellular ROS production, reduces H2O2-induced apoptosis levels, and prevents the oxidative damage-dependent increases of the percentage of cells in G2/M phase. Likewise, NLX protects PC12 cells from H2O2- induced oxidative damage, by preventing the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Moreover, electrochemical experiments confirmed the antioxidant properties of NLX. Conclusion: Overall, these findings provide a starting point for studying further the protective effects of NLX on oxidative stress.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Coleosporium asterum (Dietel) Sydow & P. Sydow, Coleosporium montanum (Arthur & F. Kern) and Coleosporium solidaginis (Schwein.) Thüm, three basidiomycete fungi belonging to the family Coleosporiaceae, causing rust diseases on Pinus spp. (aecial hosts) and on Asteraceae (telial hosts). Coleosporium asterum was described on Aster spp. in Japan and has been reported from China, Korea, France and Portugal. Coleosporium montanum is native to North America, has been introduced to Asia and has been reported from Austria on Symphyotrichum spp. Coleosporium solidaginis has been reported on Solidago spp. from North America, Asia and Europe (Switzerland and Germany). There is a key uncertainty about these reported distributions, due to the until recently accepted synonymy between these fungi and the lack of molecular studies. The pathogens are not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, an implementing act of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, or in any emergency plant health legislation. There are no reports of interceptions of C. asterum, C. montanum or C. solidaginis in the EU. The pathogens can further enter into, establish in and spread within the EU via host plants for planting, other than seeds and host plant parts (e.g. cut flowers, foliage, branches), other than fruits. Entry into and spread within the EU may also occur by natural means. Host availability and climate suitability in the EU are favourable for the establishment of the pathogens in areas where host plants in the Asteraceae and Pinaceae co‐exist. Impacts can be expected on both aecial and telial hosts. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the risk of further introduction and spread of the three pathogens in the EU. Coleosporium asterum, C. montanum and C. solidaginis satisfy the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for these species to be regarded as Union quarantine pests, but a key uncertainty exists about their EU distribution.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Diplodia bulgarica, a clearly defined plant pathogenic fungus of the family Botryosphaeriaceae. The pathogen affects Malus domestica, M. sylvestris and Pyrus communis causing various symptoms such as canker, twig blight, gummosis, pre‐ and post‐harvest fruit rot, dieback and tree decline. The pathogen is present in Asia (India, Iran, Türkiye) and in non‐EU Europe (Serbia). Concerning the EU, the pathogen is present in Bulgaria and widespread in Germany. There is a key uncertainty on the geographical distribution of D. bulgarica worldwide and in the EU, because in the past, when molecular tools were not available, the pathogen might have been misidentified as other Diplodia species (e.g. D. intermedia, D. malorum, D. mutila, D. seriata) or other members of the Botryosphaeriaceae family affecting apple and pear based only on morphology and pathogenicity tests. Diplodia bulgarica is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Plants for planting, other than seeds, fresh fruits, and bark and wood of host plants as well as soil and other plant‐growing media carrying plant debris are the main pathways for the further entry of the pathogen into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability factors are favourable for the further establishment of the pathogen in the EU. In the areas of its present distribution, including Germany, the pathogen has a direct impact on cultivated hosts. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the further introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU. Diplodia bulgarica satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, a clearly defined plant pathogenic fungus of the family Botryosphaeriaceae. The pathogen affects a wide range of woody perennial crops and ornamental plants causing symptoms such as leaf spot, shoot blight, branch dieback, canker, pre‐ and post‐harvest fruit rot, gummosis and root rot. The pathogen is present in Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Oceania. It has also been reported from Greece, Cyprus and Italy, with a restricted distribution. Nevertheless, there is a key uncertainty on the geographical distribution of N. dimidiatum worldwide and in the EU, because in the past, when molecular tools were not available, the two synanamorphs of the pathogen (Fusicoccum‐like and Scytalidium‐like) might have been misidentified based only on morphology and pathogenicity tests. N. dimidiatum is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Because of the wide host range of the pathogen, this pest categorisation focuses on those hosts for which there is robust evidence that the pathogen was formally identified by a combination of morphology, pathogenicity and multilocus sequence analysis. Plants for planting, fresh fruits and bark and wood of host plants as well as soil and other plant growing media are the main pathways for the further entry of the pathogen into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability factors occurring in parts of the EU are favourable for the further establishment of the pathogen. In the areas of its present distribution, including Italy, the pathogen has a direct impact on cultivated hosts. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the further introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU. N. dimidiatum satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Coleosporium eupatorii Arthur ex Cummins, a clearly defined heteroecious fungus of the family Coleosporiaceae, causing rust diseases on five‐needle Pinus spp. (aecial hosts) and on several genera of the Asteraceae family (telial hosts), such as Eupatorium spp. and Stevia spp. C. eupatorii is reported from Asia as well as North, Central and South America. It is not known to occur in the EU. The pathogen is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and has not been intercepted in the EU. The pathogen can be detected on its host plants by DNA sequencing. The main pathway for the entry of C. eupatorii into the EU is host plants for planting, other than seeds. In the EU, there is availability of aecial host plants, with Pinus peuce, P. strobus and P. cembra being the most important ones. There is a key uncertainty about whether European Eupatorium species (specifically E. cannabinum) are hosts of C. eupatorii and thus the ability of the pathogen to complete its life cycle, establish and spread in the EU. C. eupatorii could potentially spread within the EU by both natural and human‐assisted means. The introduction of C. eupatorii into the EU is expected to have an economic and environmental impact. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the introduction and spread of the pathogen in the EU. C. eupatorii satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Pantoea ananatis, a Gram‐negative bacterium belonging to the Erwiniaceae family. P. ananatis is a well‐defined taxonomic unit; nonetheless, its pathogenic nature is not well defined and non‐pathogenic populations are known to occupy several, very different environmental niches as saprophytes, or as plant growth promoting bacteria or biocontrol agents. It is also described as a clinical pathogen causing bacteraemia and sepsis or as a member of the gut microbiota of several insects. P. ananatis is the causal agent of different diseases affecting numerous crops: in particular, centre rot of onion, bacterial leaf blight and grain discoloration of rice, leaf spot disease of maize and eucalyptus blight/dieback. A few insect species have been described as vectors of P. ananatis, among them, Frankliniella fusca and Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. This bacterium is present in several countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Oceania from tropical and subtropical regions to temperate areas worldwide. P. ananatis has been reported from the EU territory, both as pathogen on rice and maize and as an environmental, non‐pathogenic bacterium in rice marshes and poplar rhizosoil. It is not included in EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. The pathogen can be detected on its host plants using direct isolation, or PCR‐based methods. The main pathway for the entry of the pathogen into the EU territory is host plants for planting, including seeds. In the EU, there is a large availability of host plants, with onion, maize, rice and strawberry being the most important ones. Therefore, disease outbreaks are possible almost at any latitude, except in the most northern regions. P. ananatis is not expected to have frequent or consistent impact on crop production and is not expected to have any environmental impact. Phytosanitary measures are available to mitigate the further introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU on some hosts. The pest does not satisfy the criteria, which are within the remit for EFSA to evaluate whether the pest meets the definition of a Union quarantine pest. P. ananatis is probably widely distributed in different ecosystems in the EU. It may impact some specific hosts such as onions while on other hosts such as rice it has been reported as a seed microbiota without causing any impact and can even be beneficial to plant growth. Hence, the pathogenic nature of P. ananatis is not fully established.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Coniella granati, a clearly defined fungus of the Order Diaporthales and the family Schizoparmaceae, described for the first time in 1876 as Phoma granatii and later named as Pilidiella granati. The pathogen mainly affects Punica granatum (pomegranate) and Rosa spp. (rose), causing fruit rot, shoot blight and cankers on crown and branches. The pathogen is present in North America, South America, as well as in Asia, Africa, Oceania and Eastern Europe and has also been reported in the EU (Greece, Hungary, Italy and Spain), where it is widespread in the major pomegranate growing areas. Coniella granati is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and there are no interceptions in the EU. This pest categorisation focused on those hosts for which the pathogen was detected and formally identified in natural conditions. Plants for planting, fresh fruits and as well as soil and other plant growing media are the main pathways for the further entry of the pathogen into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability factors occurring in parts of the EU are favourable for the further establishment of the pathogen. In the area of its present distribution, including Italy and Spain, the pathogen has a direct impact in pomegranate orchards as well as during post‐harvest storage. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the further introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU. Coniella granati does not satisfy the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest as it is present in several EU MSs.

IntroductionTobacco brown spot disease caused by Alternaria fungal species is a major threat to tobacco growth and yield. Thus, accurate and rapid detection of tobacco brown spot disease is vital for disease prevention and chemical pesticide inputs.MethodsHere, we propose an improved YOLOX-Tiny network, named YOLO-Tobacco, for the detection of tobacco brown spot disease under open-field scenarios. Aiming to excavate valuable disease features and enhance the integration of different levels of features, thereby improving the ability to detect dense disease spots at different scales, we introduced hierarchical mixed-scale units (HMUs) in the neck network for information interaction and feature refinement between channels. Furthermore, in order to enhance the detection of small disease spots and the robustness of the network, we also introduced convolutional block attention modules (CBAMs) into the neck network.ResultsAs a result, the YOLO-Tobacco network achieved an average precision (AP) of 80.56% on the test set. The AP was 3.22%, 8.99%, and 12.03% higher than that obtained by the classic lightweight detection networks YOLOX-Tiny network, YOLOv5-S network, and YOLOv4-Tiny network, respectively. In addition, the YOLO-Tobacco network also had a fast detection speed of 69 frames per second (FPS).DiscussionTherefore, the YOLO-Tobacco network satisfies both the advantages of high detection accuracy and fast detection speed. It will likely have a positive impact on early monitoring, disease control, and quality assessment in diseased tobacco plants.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Xylella taiwanensis, a Gram‐negative bacterium belonging to the Xanthomonadaceae. The pathogen is a well‐defined taxonomic entity, and it is the causal agent of the pear leaf scorch. X. taiwanensis is present in subtropical and temperate areas of the island of Taiwan, where it affects low chilling pear cultivars of the species Pyrus pyrifolia (Asian pear). No other plant species are reported to be affected by the pathogen. The pathogen is not known to be present in the EU territory and it is not included in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. The main pathway for the entry of the pathogen into the EU territory is host plants for planting (except seeds); another possible pathway might be represented by putative insect vectors, though their identity remains unknown. The cultivated area of P. pyrifolia in the EU territory is very limited. Conversely, the genetically related P. communis is widely cultivated in most EU Member States and there is no information so far on the susceptibility of its several cultivars. Should the pest establish in the EU, economic impact is expected, provided that suitable insect vectors are present and P. communis is as susceptible to infection as P. pyrifolia. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU, since plants for planting from Taiwan is a closed pathway; nonetheless, putative vectors, if confirmed and identified, may represent an additional risk of the pathogen's introduction and spread. The lack of knowledge on whether X. taiwanensis can infect P. communis, the identity and presence of suitable vectors in the EU lead to key uncertainties on entry, establishment, spread and impact. X. taiwanensis satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, a clearly defined fungus of the family Botryosphaeriaceae, which was first described in 2008 as a cryptic species within the L. theobromae complex. The pathogen affects a wide range of woody perennial crops and ornamental plants causing root rot, damping‐off, leaf spots, twig blight, cankers, stem‐end rot, gummosis, branch dieback and pre‐ and post‐harvest fruit rots. Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae is present in Africa, Asia, North and South America and Oceania and has also been reported from Spain with a restricted distribution. However, there is uncertainty on the status of the pathogen worldwide and in the EU because in the past, when molecular tools (particularly multigene phylogenetic analysis) were not available, the pathogen might have been misidentified as L. theobromae. Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and there are no interceptions in the EU. Because of the very wide host range of the pathogen, this pest categorisation focused on those hosts for which there is robust evidence that the pathogen was formally identified by a combination of morphology, pathogenicity and multilocus sequence analysis. Plants for planting, including seeds, fresh fruits and bark and wood of host plants as well as soil and other plant‐growing media are the main pathways for the further entry of the pathogen into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability factors occurring in parts of the EU are favourable for the further establishment of the pathogen. In the area of its present distribution, including Spain, the pathogen has a direct impact on cultivated hosts. multilocus measures are available to prevent the further introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU. Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Stenocarpella maydis, a clearly defined fungus causing seedling blight, stalk and ear rot in maize, its only confirmed main host. The pathogen occurs in many countries of North, Central and South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania where maize is grown commercially. It is present in the EU with restricted distribution (Czech Republic and Spain). Stenocarpella maydis is not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Plants for planting (maize seeds) is the main pathway of entry and spread in the EU. Host availability and climate are favourable for the establishment of the pathogen in maize‐growing areas of the EU. The pathogen has a direct impact on yield and quality of maize production. Phytosanitary measures are available to mitigate further introduction and spread of the pathogen into the EU. The Panel concludes that S. maydis satisfies all the criteria to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health conducted a pest categorisation of chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV) for the EU territory. The identity of CpCDV, a member of the genus Mastrevirus (family Geminiviridae) is established. Reliable detection and identification methods are available. The pathogen is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. CpCDV has been reported in Africa, Asia and Oceania. It has not been reported in the EU. CpCDV infects plant species in the family Fabaceae and several species of other families (Amaranthaceae, Brassicaceae, Caricaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Malvaceae and Solanaceae), including weeds. It may induce symptoms on its hosts, causing severe yield reduction. The virus is transmitted in a persistent, circulative and non‐propagative manner by the leafhopper species Orosius orientalis and O. albicinctus, which are not regulated. O. orientalis is known to be present in some EU member states. Plants for planting (other than seeds), parts of plants and cut flowers of CpCDV hosts and viruliferous leafhoppers were identified as the most relevant pathways for the entry of CpCDV into the EU. Cultivated and wild hosts of CpCDV are distributed across the EU. Would the pest enter and establish in the EU territory, impact on the production of cultivated hosts is expected. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent entry and spread of the virus in the EU. CpCDV fulfils the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Coleosporium phellodendri Kom., a basidiomycete fungus belonging to the order Pucciniales, causing rust diseases on Pinus spp. (aecial host) and on Phellodendron spp. (telial host). C. phellodendri has been reported only from Asia (namely, China, Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia) and is not known to be present in the EU territory. The pathogen is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, an implementing act of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, or in any emergency plant health legislation. The pathogen could enter into, become established in, and spread within the EU territory via host plants for planting and host plant parts (e.g. foliage, branches) other than seeds and fruits, respectively. Spread within the EU territory may also occur by natural means if Phellodendron spp. were present. Availability of the Pinus spp. and climate suitability factors occurring in the EU are favourable for the establishment of the pathogen in areas where Phellodendron spp. are also present. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the introduction and spread of the pathogen in the EU. C. phellodendri does not satisfy all the criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a Union quarantine pest as no economic and environmental impact of this pathogen is expected without widespread presence of Phellodendron spp. in the EU.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop, widely grown throughout the temperate zones, and also suitable for cultivation at higher elevations. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a highly destructive disease of wheat throughout the globe. In July 2020, serious wheat FHB symptoms were observed in open fields located in Linzhi City, southeast of Tibet, China. The causal agent was identified as Fusarium avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc. by amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) gene, and RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB-2) gene, as well as by morphological characterization. Koch’s postulates were confirmed by a pathogenicity test on healthy spikes, including re-isolation and identification. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. avenaceum causing FHB on wheat in Tibet, China. Moreover, to determine pathogen characteristics that may be useful for future disease management, the utilization of different carbon and nitrogen resources, temperature, light, and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on mycelium growth and conidia germination were studied. Soluble starch and peptone were the best carbon, and nitrogen source for the pathogen respectively. The optimal temperatures for the pathogen’s mycelium growth and conidia germination were 15–20°C, matching the average temperature during the growing season in Linzhi (Tibet). Meanwhile, alternating 8-h light and 16-h dark was shown to be conducive to mycelia growth, and complete darkness facilitated conidia germination. In addition, UV Irradiation of 48 MJ/cm2, approximately 100 times of the local condition, did not inhibit the germination of conidia. Furthermore, in vitro screening of effective fungicides was conducted. Among the seven tested pesticides, carbendazim showed the best inhibition rate, with an EC50 (concentration for 50% of maximal effect) value of 2.1 mg/L. Propiconazole also showed sufficient inhibitory effects against F. avenaceum, with an EC50 value of 2.6 mg/L. The study provides insights into the newly identified causal agent of wheat FHB in Tibet, China, as well as first pathogen characteristics and promising candidate substances for its management.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Colletotrichum aenigma, C. alienum, C. perseae, C. siamense and C. theobromicola, five clearly defined fungi of the C. gloeosporioides complex causing anthracnose. The pathogens are widely distributed in at least three continents. C. aenigma and C. siamense are reported from Italy and C. alienum from Portugal, including the Madeira Islands, with a restricted distribution. C. perseae and C. theobromicola are not known to be present in the EU. However, there is uncertainty on the status of the pathogens worldwide and in the EU because of the taxonomic re‐evaluation of the genus Colletotrichum and the lack of specific surveys. The pathogens are not included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and there are no reports of interceptions in the EU. With the exception of C. perseae, which has a very limited number of hosts, the other four Colletotrichum species have relatively wide host ranges. Therefore, this pest categorisation focused on those hosts for which there is robust evidence that the pathogens were formally identified by a combination of morphology, pathogenicity and multilocus sequence analysis. Host plants for planting and fresh fruits are the main entry pathways into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability factors occurring in some parts of the EU are favourable for the establishment of the pathogens. No yield losses have been reported so far in the EU but in non‐EU areas of their current distribution, the pathogens have a direct impact on cultivated hosts that are also relevant for the EU. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the further introduction and spread of C. aenigma, C. alienum and C. siamense into the EU as well as the introduction and spread of C. perseae and C. theobromicola. C. aenigma, C. alienum, C. perseae, C. siamense and C. theobromicola satisfy the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for these species to be regarded as potential Union quarantine pests.

According to the WHO, the overall age-standardized cancer rate keeps declining, and the number of cases diagnosed each year increases, remaining among the leading causes of death in 91 out of 172 recorded countries. In this context, novel cancer prediction and therapeutic protocols are compulsory. The effect of a Stachys circinata L’Hér dichloromethane extract (ScDME) on cell redox homeostasis and tumor proliferation was investigated. HepG2 cell feedback mechanisms to oxidative stress exposure were evaluated by determining catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH), following the supply with ScDME (0.0–5.7 µg/µL). Cytotoxicity of ScDME against the human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and two human cancer cell lines (breast: MCF7; liver: HepG2) was evaluated by the MTT assay. H2O2-stressed HepG2 cells supplied with the S. circinata extracts exhibited significantly increased CAT and GSH activity as compared to unsupplied ones. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated by real time-qPCR on IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α expression. As a result, this research points out that S. circinata dichloromethane extract owns anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties against MCF7 and HepG2 cells and activates CAT and GSH of the HepG2 cells’ antioxidant enzyme system.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health conducted a pest categorisation of Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) for the EU territory. The identity of CaCV, a member of the genus Orthotospovirus (family Tospoviridae), is established and reliable detection and identification methods are available. The pathogen is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. CaCV has been reported in Australia, China, India, Iran, Taiwan, Thailand and USA (Hawaii). In the EU, it has been reported once in Greece (Crete Island). The NPPO of Greece reported that CaCV is no longer present in Greece. CaCV infects plant species in the family Solanaceae (i.e. pepper, tomato) and several species of other families, including ornamentals. It may induce severe symptoms on its hosts, mainly on leaves and fruits, which may become unmarketable. The virus is transmitted in a persistent propagative mode by the thrips Ceratothripoides claratris, Frankliniella schultzei, Microcephalothrips abdominalis and Thrips palmi. C. claratris and T. palmi are EU quarantine pests. M. abdominalis is known to be present in several EU member states and it is not regulated in the EU. Plants for planting, parts of plants, fruits and cut flowers of CaCV hosts, and viruliferous thrips were identified as the most relevant pathways for the entry of CaCV into the EU. Cultivated and wild hosts of CaCV are distributed across the EU. Should the pest enter and establish in the EU territory, impact on the production of cultivated hosts is expected. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent entry and spread of the virus in the EU. CaCV fulfils the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Atalodera andina (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) for the European Union (EU) territory. A. andina belongs to the order Rhabditida, subfamily Ataloderinae. This species has not been reported from the EU. It is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. It is present in the area of the Lake Titicaca of both Peru and Bolivia and in valleys of the region. There is a report in literature stating that specimens were obtained from Chile and identified as A. andina but details on their geographical origin were not given. The identity of A. andina is well established and methods of its identification are available. Natural hosts include the tuber crops Ullucus tuberosus, Oxalis tuberosa and the Andean potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigenum). Experimental hosts include plants of the genus Brassica (such as B. oleracea, B. napus, B. campestris), sugar beet, tomato and clover. Pathways of entry are host plants for planting including seed tubers, subterranean parts of plants intended for consumption, soil as such or attached to plants for planting, machinery or footwear, soil in packaging (bags). Suitable climates exist in the EU but their extent is uncertain and depends on assumptions made on the occurrence of the pest around Lake Titicaca. In the EU, potato, which is grown on about 1,500,000 ha annually, is expected to be the main host of the nematode. Soil and plants for planting are prohibited from import to the EU from third countries where the pest is known to occur. However, this does not cover hosts of A. andina other than species of Solanaceae. The nematode has been reported to damage Andean potato crops, although this has not been quantified. Following its introduction in the EU, A. andina is expected to cause impacts on potato (S. tuberosum subsp. tuberosum), although there is uncertainty on the magnitude of this impact. Also damage on other hosts cannot be excluded. Therefore, the Panel concludes that A. andina satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Fusarium pseudograminearum O'Donnell & T. Aoki. F. pseudograminearum is a soil‐borne fungal pathogen, able to cause a disease known as Fusarium crown rot (FCR, also known as foot and root rot) and occasionally Fusarium head blight on small grain cereals, particularly Triticum aestivum L., Triticum turgidum L. spp. durum (Dest.), Hordeum vulgare L. and triticale (xTriticosecale). In addition, F. pseudograminearum has been isolated from soybean (Glycine max L.) and from some grass genera, such as Phalaris, Agropyron and Bromus, which represent potentially important inoculum reservoirs. This pathogen has been reported in arid and semi‐arid cropping regions in Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, northern Africa and South Africa, the Middle East and Asia. In the EU, it has been reported in Italy since 1994 and later in Spain on field‐grown durum wheat, but uncertainty remains regarding the actual distribution of the pathogen in the EU. The pathogen is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. Seeds of host plants and soil and other substrates are the main pathways for the entry and spread of the pathogen into the EU. There are no reports of interceptions of F. pseudograminearum in the EU. Host availability and climate suitability occurring in the EU favour establishment of the pathogen and allow it to establish in areas from which it has not been reported. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the introduction of the pathogen into the EU, and additional measures are available to mitigate the risk of spread. In the non‐EU areas of its present distribution, the pathogen has a direct impact on cultivated hosts (e.g. wheat, barley, triticale and soybean) that are also relevant for the EU. However, no crop losses have been reported so far in the EU. The Panel concludes that F. pseudograminearum satisfies all the criteria to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health conducted a pest categorisation of High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV) for the EU territory. The identity of HPWMoV, a member of the genus Emaravirus (family Fimoviridae), is well established and reliable identification methods are available. The pathogen is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. HPWMoV has been reported from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ukraine and USA, and it is not known to be present in the EU. HPWMoV infects plant species of the family Poaceae (i.e. wheat, maize and several other cultivated or wild Poaceae species). It is the causal agent of High Plains disease of wheat and maize, inducing symptoms ranging from mild to severe mosaic, chlorosis and necrosis in wheat, and chlorotic streaks in maize plants. The virus is transmitted by the wheat curl mite Aceria tosichella, which is present in the EU. HPWMoV transmission via seeds was reported to occur in sweet corn. Sweet corn seeds for sowing were identified as the most relevant pathway for entry of HPWMoV into the EU. Seeds from other hosts and viruliferous wheat curl mites were identified as entry pathways associated with uncertainties. Machinery not appropriately cleaned may move infected seeds and/or parts of cereals infested by viruliferous mites. Cultivated and wild hosts of HPWMoV are distributed across the EU. Would the pest enter and establish in the EU territory, economic impact on the production of cultivated hosts is expected. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent entry and spread of the virus in the EU. HPWMoV fulfils the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The double standard represents a standard of good behaviour that, unfairly, some people are expected to follow or achieve, but others are not. Once neglected by social scientists, the double standard in sexual attitudes has become more and more studied. In this paper, we inquire about the existence of the double standard in opinions regarding peers’ sexual behaviours and study its determinants. What makes young people judge the sexual behaviour of women in a more conservative way than that of men? The paper uses data collected from Italian university students, who are asked to express their (dis)approval of a series of sexual behaviours, considering peers of either gender participating in those behaviours. The results show that the double standard exists and has been persistent amid Italian undergraduate students over the last 20 years, and that the cultural context matters more than the family in shaping students’ beliefs.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Plicosepalus acaciae (Zuccarini) Wiens & Polhill), the acacia strap flower, a hemiparasitic plant of the family Loranthaceae parasitising woody plants. Host plants include several species of the genera Vachellia, Tamarix and Ziziphus and various fruit crops. P. acaciae is present in the Middle East and Eastern Africa and is not known to occur in the EU. P. acaciae has a long flowering period of about 10 months, from June to April the following year, during which flowers are pollinated by insects and birds. P. acaciae produces single seeded red berries that are eaten by birds, which then disseminate the seeds. The only known bird observed to disseminate the seeds of P. acaciae is Pycnonotus xanthopygos, which has been recorded just once (Spain) but it is not established in the EU. P. acaciae could enter into the EU with host plants for planting. Host plants are present and suitable climatic conditions occur in parts of the EU. If a suitable bird would adapt to transfer the seeds, establishment and spread of P. acaciae within the EU would be possible. If P. acaciae would be able to establish and spread, impacts on some crop plants (e.g. Juglans regia, Ficus carica, Punica granatum, Pistacia vera), ornamental plants, as well as native vegetation could occur. P. acaciae fulfils the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. Uncertainty remains on bird species other than P. xanthopygos transferring P. acaciae, the magnitude of potential impacts and the host range.

Abstract Following a request from the EU Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health conducted a pest categorisation of Apium virus Y (ApVY) for the EU territory. The identity of the ApVY, a member of the genus Potyvirus (family Potyviridae), is well established and reliable detection methods are available. The pathogen is not included in EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. ApVY, considered endemic in Australia, was reported also in New Zealand and USA. In the EU, the virus was identified in Germany and Slovenia. No information on adoption of official control measures is available. In natural conditions, ApVY infects plant species of the family Apiaceae (i.e. celery, coriander, dill, parsley, bishop’s weed) in which it generally induces leaf symptoms and/or stunting. In some hosts (i.e. parsley and poison hemlock), ApVY may be asymptomatic. The virus is transmitted in a non‐persistent manner by the aphid Myzus persicae which is widespread in the EU. Although ApVY transmission through seeds has been experimentally excluded for some hosts (i.e. poison hemlock and celery), uncertainty exists for the other hosts because seed transmission is not uncommon for potyvirids. Plants for planting, including seeds for sowing, were identified as potential pathways for entry of ApVY into the EU. Cultivated and wild hosts of ApVY are distributed across the EU. Economic impact on the production of the cultivated hosts is expected if further entry and spread in the EU occur. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent further entry and spread of the virus. Currently, ApVY does not fulfil the criterion of being absent or present with restricted distribution and under official control to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine, unless official control is implemented. This conclusion is associated with high uncertainty regarding the current virus distribution in the EU.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4), an ascomycete fungus causing Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) on Musa spp. Foc TR4 is pathogenic to the commercial banana varieties including those of the ‘Cavendish’ group and is considered as the most destructive among Foc haplotypes. Uncertainty exists on the host range of Foc TR4, since it has not been demonstrated whether it can infect plant species other than Musa spp., which were previously reported as hosts of other Foc races. Foc TR4 is morphologically and physiologically identical to other representatives of the Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex (FOSC), but all Foc TR4 isolates belong to a single clonal lineage within the vegetative compatibility groups 01213‐01216. Several PCR protocols are described in the literature, but their specificity has been questioned as they may generate false positives. The pathogen is not included in EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072 and is not reported as present in the EU territory. Several potential entry pathways and means of spread were identified, including host plants for planting other than vitroplants, fresh fruits and leaves of host plants, soil and other substrates originating in infested third countries. Host availability and climate suitability occurring in some areas of the EU are favourable for the establishment of Foc TR4. Being a soil‐borne pathogen, eradication of Foc TR4 once it enters a new area is very difficult. Therefore, effective quarantine measures are essential in pathogen‐free areas. Although not specifically targeting against Foc TR4, phytosanitary measures are currently available to prevent the introduction of the pathogen into the EU. Considering that banana‐growing EU countries account for over 12% of the EU banana supply, it is expected that the economic impact of Foc TR4 on the European banana production areas would be devastating. Foc TR4 satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this pathogen to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Xanthomonas citri pv. viticola (Nayudu) Dye, a Gram‐negative bacterium belonging to the Xanthomonadaceae family. The pathogen is a well‐defined taxonomic unit and is the causal agent of the leaf spot and bacterial canker of Vitis vinifera. This bacterium is present in India and Brazil, where it affects table grape cultivation; the same pathogen is able to cause a disease on Azadirachta indica and on some weed species. Reports indicate that the bacterium is present in Thailand as well. The pathogen has never been reported from the EU territory and it is not included in EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. The pathogen can be detected on its host plants using direct isolation, serological or PCR‐based methods. Its identification is achieved using biochemical and nutritional assays, together with a multilocus sequence analysis based on seven housekeeping genes. The main pathway for the entry of the pathogen into the EU territory is plant propagation material. In the EU, there is large availability of host plants, with grapevine being one of the most important crops in Europe and more specifically in its Mediterranean areas. Since X. citri pv. viticola is only reported in tropical and subtropical areas (BSh and Aw climatic zones according to the Köppen–Geiger classification), there is uncertainty whether the climatic conditions in the EU territory are suitable for its establishment. Nevertheless, due to the great importance of grapevine for the EU agriculture, any disease outbreak may have a high‐economic impact. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent the introduction of the pathogen into the EU. X. citri pv. viticola satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Abstract Following a request from the EU Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health conducted a pest categorisation of carrot thin leaf virus (CTLV) for the EU territory. The identity of CTLV, a member of the genus Potyvirus (family Potyviridae), is well established and reliable detection methods are available. The pathogen is not included in the EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. CTLV has been reported from the USA and Colombia. In the EU, the virus was reported in Germany and Slovenia and the NPPO of both countries confirmed these reports. No official national measures have been taken so far. In 2018, CTLV was reported from Greece on Torilis arvensis subsp. arvensis. Since then, no other reports exist. According to the NPPO, the virus did not establish in Greece. In natural conditions, CTLV infects plant species of the family Apiaceae (i.e., carrot, coriander, parsley and several wild weed species). The virus is transmitted in a non‐persistent manner by the aphids Myzus persicae and Cavariella aegopodii, which are widely distributed in the EU. CTLV has been reported not to be transmitted by carrot seeds, while no information is available for the other hosts. Since transmission through seeds is not uncommon for potyvirids, it cannot be excluded that CTLV can be seed transmitted for some hosts. Plants for planting, including seeds for sowing, were identified as potential pathways for entry of CTLV into the EU. Cultivated and wild hosts of CTLV are distributed across the EU. Economic impact on the production of cultivated hosts is expected if further entry and spread in the EU occur. Phytosanitary measures are available to prevent further entry and spread of the virus on its cultivated hosts. Currently, CTLV does not fulfil the criterion of being absent or present with restricted distribution and under official control to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest, unless official control is implemented. This conclusion is associated with high uncertainty regarding the current virus distribution in the EU.