“橄榄树麻风病” 蔓延欧洲 可造成重大经济损失

研究人员表示，一种致命病原体对欧洲橄榄树的侵害所造成的经济损失可达200多亿欧元。研究人员模拟了这种名叫叶缘焦枯病菌（Xylella fastidiosa）的病原体未来的最坏影响，这种病原体已经杀死了意大利的大片树木。

Xylella is considered to be one of the most dangerous pathogens for plants anywhere in the world. Transmitted by sap-sucking insects, the bacterium has caused Italy's olive production to decline by 60% since it was first discovered in 2013. The infection has now been found in trees in Spain, France and Portugal.

叶缘焦枯病菌（Xylella）被认为是世界上最危险的植物病原体之一。这种病菌通过吸吮植物汁液的昆虫传播，自2013年首次发现以来，已导致意大利橄榄产量下降了60%。现在， 在西班牙、法国和葡萄牙的树木中也发现了这种病菌感染。

As there are no treatment at present, researchers modelled what would happen if olive trees were wiped out across major producing countries. They suggest that the economic cost to Europe would be in excess of €20 billion, with likely shortages and price increases for consumers of olive oil.

由于目前还没有治疗方法，研究人员模拟了如果橄榄树在主要生产国全部死亡后会发生的情况。他们认为，欧洲的经济损失会超过200亿欧元，包括消费者可能面临橄榄油短缺和价格上涨。

The researchers say that the best hope of avoiding the drastic scenario is to develop resistant varieties of olive trees. While this approach may be slow, the authors say, it's by far the best option in the long run.

研究人员表示，避免这种极端状况的最大希望是开发出抗性品种。虽然这个方法可能很慢，但此研究的作者们说，从长远来看，这是目前最好的选择。