Draft genome assemblies of 59 strains of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex

Objectives: The Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) is a globally distributed soil-borne bacterial pathogen responsible for the bacterial wilt disease, impacting numerous economically important crops. Owing to its high genetic and geographical diversity, the RSSC is subdivided into four phylotypes and sequevars. This study aimed to expand the genomic resources available for RSSC by generating new high-quality whole-genome sequences from genetically and geographically diverse strains. By enriching public databases with underrepresented genomes, this dataset provides valuable resources for comparative genomics, phylogenetic studies, and the development of improved molecular diagnostic tools. Data description: The dataset included 59 RSSC strains representing three phylotypes, collected from 20 countries between 1959 and 2021. Combined with publicly available genomes, the final dataset comprised 1,133 RSSC genomes. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed previous assignments, and newly sequenced genomes broadened the representation of genetic diversity within the RSSC. A total of 5,504,641 genes, corresponding to 20,906 gene families were identified. Among these, 3,340 gene families constituted the core genome, while 17,566 belonged to the accessory genome. Importantly, 414 gene families were detected exclusively in the newly sequenced genomes, highlighting their contribution to the accessory genomic diversity of the RSSC.