Draft genome sequence of Cicuta witches' broom phytoplasma, subgroup 16SrIII-J: a subgroup with phytopathological relevance in South America

Phytoplasmas are uncultivable wall-less bacteria causing plant diseases worldwide. Phytoplasmas from X-disease are one of the most diverse and economically important in South America. The Cicuta witches' broom Phytoplasma (CicWB) was described in association to cicuta or hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) exhibiting witches' broom and phyllody symptoms in surrounding potato fields in Los Cerrillos (Córdoba- Argentina). The partial genome of CicWB phytoplasma was obtained using a hybrid approach combining Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Final draft genome consists of 16 contigs totaling 758.187 bp of length, with 400X of coverage and 96.70% of the estimated completeness. Comparative genomics, based on Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), and phylogenomic analyses, revealed its close relationship to subgroup 16SrIII-J phytoplasmas. Furthermore, the study identified 37 putative effectors, including orthologs for SAP11, SAP54, SAP05, as well as immunodominant membrane proteins Imp and IdpA. This comprehensive genome analysis provides crucial insights into the genomic landscape of phytoplasmas in the region, contributing to our understanding of their diversity and pathogenicity.