Species Diversity of and Causing Potato Blackleg Disease in Pakistan.

Potato blackleg is caused by a diverse species of pectinolytic bacteria. In Pakistan, approximately 90% of the pathogens involved belong to Survey (2014 to 2017), sampling, and isolation from different potato growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan depicted an overall disease incidence of approximately 15%. Thirty-six pectinolytic strains confirmed through biochemical and pathogenicity testing were characterized via gene to identify them at the species level. To further validate the identification, one strain from each species SS26 (), SS28 (), SS70 (), SS90 (), SS95 (), and SS96 () were selected for draft genome sequencing and multilocus sequence analysis of 13 housekeeping genes (, , , , , , , , , , , , and ). Phylogenetic analysis revealed considerable genetic diversity in the genus . DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values of the strains selected for genome sequencing were determined with other reference and strains. Moreover, all six representative strains were also phenotypically characterized on the basis of metabolism of different carbon sources. Overall, on the basis of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, these 36 isolates were grouped into six species: , , , , , and .