The role of genome sequencing in phytoplasma research

Despite their agricultural importance and unique features, phytoplasmas remain one of the most poorly characterized plant pathogen. To date, more than several hundred phytoplasma strains have been reported worldwide, and these strains have been classified mainly in ‘Candidatus phytoplasma'species based on 16S rRNA gene variability. This review focuses on the role and impact of genome sequencing in phytoplasma research, including both complete and draft sequencing projects. Genome sequencing projects strengthened the understanding of phytoplasma biology, and the information by genome sequences promoted several researches, some of those are summarized in this review.