Pathogenic and Genetic Relatedness Among Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii and Other Pathovars of X. axonopodis.

ABSTRACT Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii is phenotypically and genetically diverse and its relationship to other X. axonopodis pathovars within DNA homology group 9.

All five host-range variants of Xanthomonas citri carry one pthA homolog with 17.5 repeats that determines pathogenicity on citrus, but none determine host-range variation.

Citrus canker disease is caused by five groups of Xanthomonas citri strains that are distinguished primarily by host range: three from Asia (A, A*, and A(w)) and two that form a phylogenetically distinct clade and originated in South America (B and C). Every X. citri strain carries multiple DNA fragments that hybridize with pthA, which is essential for the pathogenicity of wide-host-range X.