Genomic Analysis of the Carrot Bacterial Blight Pathogen Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae in Korea

Abstract

Bacterial leaf blight of carrots caused by <i>Xanthomonas hortorum</i> pv. <i>carotae</i> (<i>Xhc</i>) is an important worldwide seed-borne disease. In 2012 and 2013, symptoms similar to bacterial leaf blight were found in carrot farms in Jeju Island, Korea. The phenotypic characteristics of the Korean isolation strains were similar to the type strain of <i>Xhc</i>. Pathogenicity showed symptoms on the 14th day after inoculation on carrot plants. Identification by genetic method was multi-position sequencing of the isolated strain JJ2001 was performed using four genes (<i>danK</i>, <i>gyrB</i>, <i>fyuA</i>, and <i>rpoD</i>). The isolated strain was confirmed to be most similar to <i>Xhc</i> M081. Furthermore, in order to analyze the genetic characteristics of the isolated strain, whole genome analysis was performed through the next-generation sequencing method. The draft genome size of JJ2001 is 5,443,372 bp, which contains 63.57% of G + C and has 4,547 open reading frames. Specifically, the classification of pathovar can be confirmed to be similar to that of the host lineage. Plant pathogenic factors and determinants of the majority of the secretion system are conserved in strain JJ2001. This genetic information enables detailed comparative analysis in the pathovar stage of pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, these findings provide basic data for the distribution and diagnosis of <i>Xanthomonas hortorum</i> pv. <i>carotae</i>, a major plant pathogen that infects carrots in Korea.