Abstract
The phytopathogenic genus Xanthomonas comprises numerous species and pathovars described primarily on their host and tissue specificities. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , which is non-phytopathogenic and taxonomically closely related to Xanthomonas , has undergone several classifications from Pseudomonas to Xanthomonas and finally to Stenotrophomonas . In this study, we have investigated the phylogenetic and taxonomic status of these members using the complete RNA polymerase beta-subunit ( rpoB ) gene sequences available from their sequenced genomes. Not only did we obtain a phylogenetic tree for xanthomonads, but rpoB gene sequence information has also resolved the taxonomic relationship of X. axonopodis pathovars, X. albilineans and other Xanthomonas strains, with the most marked evidence being that Stenotrophomonas is synonymous to Xanthomonas . This study has revealed the power and potential of complete rpoB gene sequence in taxonomic, phylogenetic and evolutionary studies on Xanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas generic complex. Abstract The phytopathogenic genus Xanthomonas comprises numerous species and pathovars described primarily on their host and tissue specificities. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , which is non-phytopathogenic and taxonomically closely related to Xanthomonas , has undergone several classifications from Pseudomonas to Xanthomonas and finally to Stenotrophomonas . In this study, we have investigated the phylogenetic and taxonomic status of these members using the complete RNA polymerase beta-subunit ( rpoB ) gene sequences available from their sequenced genomes. Not only did we obtain a phylogenetic tree for xanthomonads, but rpoB gene sequence information has also resolved the taxonomic relationship of X. axonopodis pathovars, X. albilineans and other Xanthomonas strains, with the most marked evidence being that Stenotrophomonas is synonymous to Xanthomonas . This study has revealed the power and potential of complete rpoB gene sequence in taxonomic, phylogenetic and evolutionary studies on Xanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas generic complex. Abstract The phytopathogenic genus Xanthomonas comprises numerous species and pathovars described primarily on their host and tissue specificities. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , which is non-phytopathogenic and taxonomically closely related to Xanthomonas , has undergone several classifications from Pseudomonas to Xanthomonas and finally to Stenotrophomonas . In this study, we have investigated the phylogenetic and taxonomic status of these members using the complete RNA polymerase beta-subunit ( rpoB ) gene sequences available from their sequenced genomes. Not only did we obtain a phylogenetic tree for xanthomonads, but rpoB gene sequence information has also resolved the taxonomic relationship of X. axonopodis pathovars, X. albilineans and other Xanthomonas strains, with the most marked evidence being that Stenotrophomonas is synonymous to Xanthomonas . This study has revealed the power and potential of complete rpoB gene sequence in taxonomic, phylogenetic and evolutionary studies on Xanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas generic complex.
Highlights
Resolving the taxonomic and phylogenetic status of plant pathogenic bacteria has been challenging due to the existence of numerous pathovars and species complexes [1]
The taxonomic status of several strains assigned to species like X. axonopodis, X.campestris and X. albilineans remain controversial [6] [7] [8], while there is a call to assign a separate genus status to Xanthomonas albilineans [8]
S.maltophilia was classified as Pseudomonas maltophilia, re-classified as Xanthomonas maltophilia [10] [11], and later upgraded to a novel genus and named Stenotrophomonas maltophilia [12]
Summary
Resolving the taxonomic and phylogenetic status of plant pathogenic bacteria has been challenging due to the existence of numerous pathovars and species complexes [1]. This study validates the right taxonomic status between Xanthomonas oryzae pathovars, (Xoo and Xoc) as they share 99% sequence identity
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