ABSTRACT
The classification and nomenclature of bacteria has gone under a sea change during the last 3 decades. The sequence analysis of highly conserved regions of the bacterial genome such as, small subunit rRNA gene has provided very valuable information concerning numerous taxonomic changes and realignment of different taxonomic groups. The sequencing of genomes of many plant pathogenic bacteria has certainly stabilized their ever fluctuating nomenclature and taxonomy. Since the publication of 1st edition of Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology in 1984, the number of published bacterial species has more than tripled, i.e., 390 new genera and 2,200 new species have been described. Many new genera containing plant pathogenic bacteria have been recognized and the rearrangement of the species among the genera has also occurred. During 1970s, there were only six genera of bacteria that contained plant pathogenic bacteria, but now this number is 53, including three candidatus categories. The description of 53 genera is given and 276 plant pathogenic species belonging to these genera are listed alphabetically. Thirty-one sub species and 171 pathovars belonging to these species are also listed. The bacterial names included are based on the information published in International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, and related journals up to December issues of 2018, and supplemented with the information given in “Names of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 1864–2004” by Young et al. (2004), “Comprehensive List of Names of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 1980–2007” by Bull et al. (2010), “List of New Names of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria (2008–2010)” by Bull et al. (2012), and “List of New Names of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria (2011–2012)” by Bull et al. (2014).
