Leifsonia xyli

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource

Classification

Leifsonia xyli is a Gram negative, aerobic, Rod shaped organism, with arrangment in singles or pairs. It has no Endospores or motility and has a host-associated habitat with opt. temperatures for growth at 20-25 degress celcius with a range in the Mesophilic. It is pathogenic to plants and causes Ratoon stunting disease. [1]

Higher Order Taxa

Taxonomy: root;cellular organism;Bacteria;Actinobacteria;Actinobacteria (class);Actinobacteridae;Actinomycetales;Micrococcineae;Microbacteriaceae;Leifsonia [2]

Species

This species comprises two xylema-associated, fastidious, slow growing subspecies, L. xyli subsp. xyli and L. xyli subsp. cynodontis.[3]

Description and significance

causes ratoon stunting (growth-hindering) disease of sugarcane and Bermudagrass stunting disease, respectively. Ratoon stunting disease is the most economically important disease of sugarcane resulting in 10-15% loss in crop yields worldwide. The disease is difficult to identify and is transmitted mechanically or through infected seeds. Pathogenicity has been associated with production of a toxin. [4]

Genome structure

Cell structure and metabolism

Ecology

Pathology

References