Xanthomonadaceae

Xanthomonadaceae is a family of bacteria in the order Xanthomonadales, which belongs to the class Gammaproteobacteria. The family includes many well-known plant pathogenic species, such as Xanthomonas campestris and Xanthomonas oryzae.

Taxonomy

The family Xanthomonadaceae was first described by Dowson in 1939. It currently includes the following genera:

• Xanthomonas
• Stenotrophomonas
• Lysobacter
• Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
• Xylella fastidiosa

Characteristics

Members of the Xanthomonadaceae family are Gram-negative bacteria, rod-shaped, and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. They are typically yellow-pigmented due to the presence of a pigment called xanthomonadin, which is unique to this family.

Pathogenicity

Many species within the Xanthomonadaceae family are known to cause plant diseases. For example, Xanthomonas campestris causes black rot in cruciferous plants, while Xanthomonas oryzae is responsible for bacterial leaf blight in rice.

Treatment and Control

Control of Xanthomonadaceae pathogens typically involves the use of resistant plant varieties, crop rotation, and the application of bactericides. In some cases, biological control agents such as bacteriophages may also be used.

See Also

• Plant pathology
• Bacterial leaf blight
• Black rot (plant disease)