Diversity within the complex, identification of and members, proposal of the novel species sp. nov.

The genus comprises plant pathogens that cause diseases in a large range of economically important crops and ornamentals. Strains previously assigned to the species are major pathogens attacking vital crops such as maize and rice. They are also frequently isolated from surface water. The newly described species is closely related to members, so that the limit between the two species can be difficult to define. In order to clearly distinguish the two species, globally described by the term ' complex', we sequenced the genome of four new water isolates and compared them to 14 genomes available in databases. Calculation of average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values confirmed the phylogenomic classification into the two species and . It also allowed us to propose a new species, sp. nov., to characterize a clade distinct from those containing the type strain NCPPB2538. Strain S31 (CFBP 8716=LMG 32070) isolated from water in France is proposed as the type strain of the new species. Phenotypic analysis of eight publically available strains revealed traits common to the five tested members but apparently not shared by the type strain. Genomic analyses indicated that a simple distinction between the species , and can be obtained on the basis of the sequence. can be distinguished from the two other species by growth on l-tartaric acid. Based on the marker, several strains previously identified as were re-assigned to the species or . This study also highlighted the broad host range diversity of these three species.