Complete genome sequences of bacterial pathogens in the UK Plant Health Risk Register

Abstract The UK Plant Health Risk Register (PHRR) lists bacterial pathogens of regulatory concern, but genome sequences—particularly for type and pathotype strains—are lacking for several taxa. We surveyed 59 cultured bacterial taxa listed in the PHRR and identified key gaps in publicly available genome data. To address these, we sequenced 18 strains from the National Collection of Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria (NCPPB), using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore technologies. Newly sequenced taxa include Agrobacterium arsenijevicii, several Xanthomonas and Ralstonia strains, and genetically distinct lineages historically grouped as Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. poinsettiicola. We also resolved a mis-assembled genome of Pectobacterium aroidearum. All data have been deposited in public repositories. These genomes will help support taxonomy, molecular assay development, and plant health surveillance.