Comparative genomic study of several pathogenic Streptomyces spp. causing common scab of potato in Eastern Canada

Streptomyces scabies is the main causal agent of common scab, a potato disease whose symptoms significantly decrease the market value of potato tubers. Closely related species, including S. acidiscabies and S. turgidiscabies have also been shown to cause the disease, and significant intraspecific variations among these species have also been reported. In Prince Edward Island, the main potato-producing province in Canada, a previous study revealed 14 pathogenic Streptomyces spp. genetically different with different levels of virulence. In an effort to better understand the genomics differences involved on the virulence of these strains, genome sequencing was performed using PacBio RSII. Comparative genomic analyses including the study of core- and pan-genome was realized. Furthermore, the pathogenicity island and the other genes involved in virulence was compared.