Species of phytopathogenic Xanthomonas bacteria can infect both herbaceous and woody plants, which poses a serious threat to Spanish agriculture and the agri-food sector. Faced with this challenge, the XANTHERWO alliance has been formed, which under the coordination of Jaime Cubero integrates researchers from the Higher Council for Scientific Research and the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), the National Association of Plant Breeders ( ANOVE), the Centre for Research and Agri-Food Technology of Aragon (CITA), the Jaume I University of Castellón (UJI), the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agrarian and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), the Plant Health Services of Castilla and León and the Valencian Community, and the University of Valencia (UV).

The project is aimed at increasing the understanding of the different models of Xanthomonas, comparing species that affect woody or herbaceous plants, as well as developing new control strategies for the diseases they cause, based on new approaches that include the use of microorganisms as biological control agents and/or biomolecules. The project team has recently received funding through the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2021-2023, MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033.