First historical genome of a crop bacterial pathogen from herbarium specimen: Insights into citrus canker emergence.

ABSTRACT: Over the past decade, ancient genomics has been used in the study of various pathogens. In this context, herbarium specimens provide a precious source of dated and preserved DNA material, enabling a better understanding of plant disease emergences and pathogen evolutionary history. We report here the first historical genome of a crop bacterial pathogen, Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xci), obtained from an infected herbarium specimen dating back to 1937. Comparing the 1937 genome within a large set of modern genomes, we reconstructed their phylogenetic relationships and estimated evolutionary parameters using Bayesian tip-calibration inferences. The arrival of Xci in the South West Indian Ocean islands was dated to the 19th century, probably linked to human migrations following slavery aboli

SUBMITTER: Campos PE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8320980 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature