Published the complete genome sequence of the olive strain “De Donno” of Xylella fastidiosa

Researchers of the University of Bari, Aldo Moro (DISSPA), and of the Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR-IPSP), Bari, with the contribution of Prof. Rodrigo P. P. Almeida (Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California) have completed the genome sequence of the “De Donno” strain of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xf). The strain was isolated and cultured from an olive tree affected by the olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS), the devastating olive disease associated with X. fastidiosa in susceptible olive cultivars, currently threatening olive crops in southern Italy (Apulia region).

The complete genome was obtained using a third-generation DNA sequencing technology (PacBio Technology), by complementing and filling the gaps of the draft genome previously obtained. The sequence of the finished genome reports the structure, the gene prediction and the putative virulence genes of this strain infecting olives, and will certainly represent a reference strain for future studies.

This result is an important accomplishment of the POnTE project, enhancing new studies (i.e. within the H2020 project, XF-ACTORS – 727987) on the population genomics and bacterial evolution characterising the current epidemics in southern Italy.