McKnight, D. J. E.; Wong-Bajracharya, J.; Okoh, E. B.; Snijders, F.; Lidbetter, F.; Webster, J.; Haughton, M.; Darling, A. E.; Djordjevic, S. P.; Bogema, D. R.; Chapman, T. A.

We describe five bacterial isolates that were isolated from Fragaria x ananassa in 1976 in Rydalmere, Australia, during routine biosecurity surveillance. Initially, biochemical characterisation identified these isolates as members of the Xanthomonas genus. To determine their species, we conducted further analysis using both phenotypic and genotypic approaches. Phenotypic analysis involved using MALDI-TOF MS and BIOLOG GEN III microplates, which confirmed that the isolates belonged to the Xanthomonas genus but could not classify species. Genome relatedness indices and extensive phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the isolates belonged to the Xanthomonas genus and represented a new species. Based on the absence of virulence factors typically found in Xanthomonas spp. genomes, we suggest that these isolates are non-pathogenic. This conclusion was supported by a pathogenicity assay. Based on these findings, we propose the name Xanthomonas rydalmerenesis, with DAR34855 = ICMP24941 as the type strain.