Comparative genomics of the subgroup reveals high species diversity and allows the description of sp. nov.

constitute one of the phylogenomic subgroups within the species complex and include both plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant pathogenic bacteria. Previous studies suggest that the species diversity of this group remains largely unexplored together with frequent misclassification of strains. Using more than 1800 sequenced genomes we identified 121 genomes belonging to the subgroup. Intergenomic distances obtained using the genome-to-genome blast distance (GBDP) algorithm and the determination of digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were further used for phylogenomic and clustering analyses, which revealed 29 putative species clusters, of which only five correspond to currently named species within the subgroup. Comparative and functional genome-scale analyses also support the species status of these clusters. The search for PGPR and plant pathogenic determinants showed that approximately half of the genomes analysed could have a pathogenic behaviour based on the presence of a pathogenicity genetic island, while all analysed genomes possess PGPR traits. Finally, this information together with the characterization of phenotypic traits, allows the reclassification proposal of F113 as sp. nov., nom rev., type strain F113 (=DSM 112162=CECT 30235), which is substantiated by genomic, functional genomics and phenotypic differences with their closest type strains.