Genomic sequencing of Xanthomonas citri pathovars that cause diseases in tropical fruit and cotton plants

Xanthomonas citri is a phytopathogenic species with a wide host range that harbors subspecies and pathovars such as citri, mangiferaeindicae, viticola, and malvacearum which cause citrus canker, bacterial canker of the mango, bacterial blight of cotton, and grapevine bacterial canker, respectively. In this work, 32 genomes belonging to these four pathovars were sequenced, two of which were from X. citri subsp. citri, one from X. citri pv. mangiferaeindicae, 13 from X. citri pv. viticola, and 16 from X. citri subsp. malvacearum. The genome size, N50, and GC content ranged from 4,978,419 to 5,256,019 bp, 67,322 to 727,867 bp, and 64.32% and 64.79%, respectively. All strains presented values of dDDH and ANIm greater than 77.3% and 96.1%, when compared to each other, and above 93% and 99%, when compared in relation to their respective pathotype strains. Maximum likelihood analysis of 1,298 core genes grouped the strains and their respective pathotype type with a 100% bootstrap. CRISPR sequences and genes from the Xop family (XopX, XopA, and XopV) and transcription activator-like effectors (TALE) were detected in all analyzed strains. The genomes sequenced in this study will help to understand the biology of these plant pathogens, enabling the development of more effective and precise management strategies and the prevention of disease outbreaks.