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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #384194
Research Project: Characterization of Molecular Networks in Diseases Caused by Emerging and Persistent Bacterial Plant Pathogens

Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research

Title: Molecular characterization of a Pseudomonas species associated with disease in Hibiscus

Author
item GONZALEZ-TOBON, JULIANA - Cornell University
item DIAZ, ALLISON - Cornell University
item DAUGHTREY, MARGERY - Cornell University
item Filiatrault, Melanie

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/2021
Publication Date: 8/2/2021
Citation: Gonzalez-Tobon, J., Diaz, A., Daughtrey, M., Filiatrault, M.J. 2021. Molecular characterization of a Pseudomonas species associated with disease in Hibiscus. American Phytopathological Society. Plant Health 2021, August 2-6, 2021, Virtual meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: During the summer of 2019, leaf spots and crinkling symptoms were found on hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) brought into New York from a nursery in Florida. Initial identification using MLST with several housekeeping genes suggested this isolate was a member of the genus Pseudomonas but the species was unclear. This result was consistent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis being a host to members of the genus Pseudomonas. To definitively determine the species, whole genome sequencing using Nanopore and Illumina sequencing technologies was performed. The genomic sequence of the pathogen shares highest homology to two pathovars of Pseudomonas amygdali. The genus Pseudomonas continually undergoes extensive taxonomic reclassifications. P. amygdali (reported synonyms P. ficuserectae, P. meliae, and P. savastanoi) has been recently proposed to be a separate species, and includes P. amygdali pv. hibisci which is sometimes referred to as P. syringae pv. hibisci, as well. Our data is consistent with this new classification. Additionally, the genome content and structure were compared against widely known Pseudomonas syringae pathovars: tomato DC3000 and B728a. A group of pathogenicity islands containing known effectors from other Pseudomonads were identified. Pathogenicity assays showed that the isolate causes disease in tomato and caused a hypersensitivity reaction in tobacco. The genomic information is being used to better understand the pathogenicity of this pathogen and closely related Pseudomonads that infect floriculture crops.