Multilocus sequence typing reveals the genetic distinctiveness of the Xylella fastidiosa strain CoDiRO

Taxonomically, Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) constitutes a single species with four recognized subspecies (Xf. fastidiosa, multiplex, pauca and sandyi). For identifying subspecies and determining the taxonomic allocation of novel bacterial isolates, a widely used approach is multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis that encompasses seven different loci. This approach was used for the identifcation of the Xf strain isolated from olive trees affected by the quick decline syndrome (OQDS) in the the Salento peninsula (Apulia, south-eastern Italy).