Genomic characterizations of Xanthomonas cucurbitae and using comparative genomics to predict novel microbe-associated molecular patterns in Xanthomonas
type: CreativeWork
description: Bacterial spot is a major plant disease caused by many plant-pathogenic members of the genus Xanthomonas. While each species is narrow in host range, bacterial spot Xanthomonads infect a large variety of plant hosts, leading to large economic losses for farmers around the world. Although Xanthomonas utilizes a wide array of virulence and pathogenicity factors to infect their hosts, plants have a range of methods to recognize invaders and prevent infection. Understanding the genomic and molecular interactions between Xanthomonas and their hosts are an important part of developing effective crop protection strategies and breeding plants for resistance. While X. cucurbitae has been identified as the causal agent of bacterial spot on cucurbits, no genomic-level analyses have been carried out regarding the pathogen. Using the first reference quality X. cucurbitae genome assembly, an RNA-seq analysis was carried out to assess virulence characteristics of the pathogen. By analyzing the X. cucurbitae transcriptome, we observed behavioral changes between nutrient-sufficient and host-mimicking conditions, as well as the upregulation of genes related to virulence and pathogenicity. We also identified virulence genes likely to be essential in successful bacterial spot infection. In addition, a RAD-seq analysis was performed to characterize populations clusters of X. cucurbitae isolated throughout the Midwestern United States. We revealed multiple populations of X. cucurbitae present throughout the region and demonstrated clear genetic differences between these populations using population genetics analyses. These studies demonstrate clear value in future genomic studies regarding X. cucurbitae. X. euvesicatoria and X. perforans are two bacterial spot Xanthomonads affecting tomatoes and peppers. We conducted a comparative genomics study in X. euvesicatoria and X. perforans populations to identify genes under selection pressure, and to characterize potential genes involved in pla…
abstract: Bacterial spot is a major plant disease caused by many plant-pathogenic members of the genus Xanthomonas. While each species is narrow in host range, bacterial spot Xanthomonads infect a large variety of plant hosts, leading to large economic losses for farmers around the world. Although Xanthomonas utilizes a wide array of virulence and pathogenicity factors to infect their hosts, plants have a range of methods to recognize invaders and prevent infection. Understanding the genomic and molecular interactions between Xanthomonas and their hosts are an important part of developing effective crop protection strategies and breeding plants for resistance. While X. cucurbitae has been identified as the causal agent of bacterial spot on cucurbits, no genomic-level analyses have been carried out regarding the pathogen. Using the first reference quality X. cucurbitae genome assembly, an RNA-seq analysis was carried out to assess virulence characteristics of the pathogen. By analyzing the X. cucurbitae transcriptome, we observed behavioral changes between nutrient-sufficient and host-mimicking conditions, as well as the upregulation of genes related to virulence and pathogenicity. We also identified virulence genes likely to be essential in successful bacterial spot infection. In addition, a RAD-seq analysis was performed to characterize populations clusters of X. cucurbitae isolated throughout the Midwestern United States. We revealed multiple populations of X. cucurbitae present throughout the region and demonstrated clear genetic differences between these populations using population genetics analyses. These studies demonstrate clear value in future genomic studies regarding X. cucurbitae. X. euvesicatoria and X. perforans are two bacterial spot Xanthomonads affecting tomatoes and peppers. We conducted a comparative genomics study in X. euvesicatoria and X. perforans populations to identify genes under selection pressure, and to characterize potential genes involved in pla…
author: Pasion, Julius
language: en
keywords: crop sciences, xanthomonas, plant-pathogen, rna-seq, rad-seq, comparative genomics, MAMP, pti, plant immune system, genomics, genetics
date published: 2020-10-07T21:00:11Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:48Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108544