ARS | Publication request: Draft Genome Sequence of Potato ‘Zebra Chip’ Associated Bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 30, 2009
Publication Date: June 1, 2009
Citation: Lin, H., Doddapaneni, H., Chen, C., Duan, Y., Zhou, L., Civerolo, E.L., Stenger, D.C. 2009. Draft Genome Sequence of Potato ‘Zebra Chip’ Associated Bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (07/09). Phytopathology 99:S73.

Technical Abstract: A new species of Candidatus Liberibacter, ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ (Lso) was recently confirmed to be associated with potato zebra chip (ZC) disease. The bacterium belongs to gram negative, phloem-limited, a-Proteobacteria. Because Koch’s postulates have not been fulfilled, information regarding the etiology of ZC disease and pathogenesis of Lso are lacking. To gain insight into this new pathosystem, we developed a novel strategy to sequence the whole genome of Lso using Roche 454 sequencing technology. This sequencing process generated ~350,000 sequencing reads with an average of ~230 bp per read. De novo sequences were assembled into 110 contigs (1.0 to 85 Kbp) with ~ 16 X redundancies, representing a genome size of ~1.26 Mbp with a GC content 34.8%. By comparative ortholog gene analysis, we predicted 1,126 coding sequences (CDS) with known and putative functions. Putative “toxin” proteins, secretion systems, transport and cell motility factors were also identified in the draft genome. Genes involving metabolite pathways were reconstructed and possible functional implications were assessed. Information from this genome sequencing data will improve our understanding of the biology of the bacterium and etiology of ZC disease.