The Agricultural University of Tirana, through its Department of Plant Protection, in collaboration with the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, welcomed Dr. Vinton Thompson, an entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, USA, for an open lecture. The lecture focused on insect vectors and their role in the transmission of Xylella fastidiosa, one of the world's most dangerous plant bacterial pathogens, which affects strategic crops such as olive and grapevine.
Although Xylella fastidiosa is present in several regions of the United States and has caused major outbreaks in Europe, particularly in the Puglia region of Italy, it is important to emphasize that this pathogen has not been reported in Albania to date, despite the fact that the insect species capable of transmitting it have been present in the country for many years.
Dr. Thompson earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard University and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. His research focuses on sharpshooter leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae), important agricultural pests that also serve as vectors of Xylella fastidiosa. Earlier this year, he published the first comprehensive book dedicated to these insects, making a significant contribution to entomological and agricultural research.
His lecture, entitled "Sharpshooter Leafhoppers and Xylella fastidiosa: Lessons from the Americas and the Mediterranean," provided valuable insights into the biology of insect vectors, the epidemiology of the disease, and international experiences in the monitoring and management of this economically significant plant pathogen.
