Complete genome sequences of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa and X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex strains causing blueberry bacterial leaf scorch disease in Georgia, USA

Authors: OLIVER, JONATHAN - University Of Georgia; LEWIS, KIPPY - University Of Georgia; TAYLOR, SHAE - University Of Georgia; Chen, Jianchi

Submitted to: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2023
Publication Date: 5/31/2023
Citation: Oliver, J.E., Lewis, K.J., Taylor, S.J., Chen, J. 2023. Complete genome sequences of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa and X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex strains causing blueberry bacterial leaf scorch disease in Georgia, USA. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 12(6). Article e00114-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00114-23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00114-23

Interpretive Summary: Blueberry bacterial leaf scorch disease (BBLS) is a growing threat to blueberry production in the southern United States. Initially, BBLS was reported to be caused by a subspecies called multiplex of a bacterial pathogen, Xylella fastidiosa. Recently, another subspecies called fastidiosa was also confirmed to cause BBLS. In this study, the genome sequences of the two Xylella subspecies from a blueberry field in Georgia, USA, were determined and published in GenBank database. The complete genome sequences will provide important baseline information for Xylella research and BBLS disease management.

Technical Abstract: This study reports the complete genome sequences of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa (Xff) strain AlmaReb2 and X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex (Xfm) strain AlmaReb6 causing bacterial leaf scorch of blueberry in Georgia, USA. The Xff AlmaReb2 genome is 2,546,502 bp, and the Xfm AlmaReb6 genome is 2,527,203 bp.