Comparative genomic analyses shed light on the introduction routes of rice-pathogenic Burkholderia gladioli strains into Bangladesh

Burkholderia gladioli is a gram-negative bacterium that can infect both humans and plants. In rice, it causes Bacterial Panicle Blight (BPB). Recently, BPB has been found in several rice fields in Bangladesh, and B. gladioli was confirmed as one of the causative agents. This raised questions about how the bacterium entered the country. To investigate, we surveyed 20 districts in Bangladesh, collecting samples from eight rice varieties showing typical BPB symptoms.