Comparative Genomics of Explores Candidate Host-Specificity Determinants and Expands the Known Repertoire of Mobile Genetic Elements and Immunity Systems.

causes diseases in many plant species. Originally confined to the Americas, infecting mainly grapevine, citrus, and coffee, has spread to several plant species in Europe causing devastating diseases. Many pathogenicity and virulence factors have been identified, which enable the various strains to successfully colonize the xylem tissue and cause disease in specific plant hosts, but the mechanisms by which this happens have not been fully elucidated. Here we present thorough comparative analyses of 94 whole-genome sequences of strains from diverse plant hosts and geographic regions. Core-genome phylogeny revealed clades with members sharing mostly a geographic region rather than a host plant of origin. Phylogenetic trees for 1605 orthologous CDSs were explored for potential candidates related to host specificity using a score of mapping metrics. However, no candidate host-specificity determinants were strongly supported using this approach. We also show that accessory genome is represented by an abundant and heterogeneous mobilome, including a diversity of prophage regions. Our findings provide a better understanding of the diversity of phylogenetically close genomes and expand the knowledge of mobile genetic elements and immunity systems.