P-533 - Genomic analysis of the Erwinia amylovora population in South Korea from 2015 to 2018

Monday, August 4, 2025

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM HST

Location: Exhibit Hall 3

Presenting Author(s)

BL

Boyoung Lee

Department of Systems Biology, Division of Life Sciences, and Institute for Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Author(s)

JS

Ju Yeon Song

Department of Systems Biology, Division of Life Sciences, and Institute for Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Author(s)

SL

Seong-Jin Lee

Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency
Gimcheon-si, Kyongsang-bukto, Republic of Korea
MN

Moon Nam

Xenotype Inc. and BIOTO Inc.
Daejeon, Taejon-jikhalsi, Republic of Korea
JL

Jong-Ho Lee

Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency
Gimcheon-si, Kyongsang-bukto, Republic of Korea
EC

Eunjin Choi

Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency
Gimcheon-si, Kyongsang-bukto, Republic of Korea
YC

Ye Ram Cho

Department of Systems Biology, Division of Life Sciences, and Institute for Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
JK

Jihyun F. Kim

Department of Systems Biology, Division of Life Sciences, and Institute for Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Abstract Text: Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, severely affects Rosaceae plants such as pear and apple trees. The causal pathogen induces wilt and necrosis in infected tissues, giving infected plants a burned-like appearance. While fire blight has caused significant outbreaks in North America, Europe, and other affected regions, it was first detected in South Korea in 2015. We sequenced the complete genomes of five representative E. amylovora strains from the initial outbreak (Plant Disease 2021 105:1143-1152). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the five Korean strains clustered closely with North American strains belonging to the Widely-Prevalent clade. We further analyzed the genomes of 92 E. amylovora isolates collected in South Korea between 2016 and 2018 (Plant Disease 2025 in press). Our genomic comparisons suggest that the Korean isolates originated from a common ancestor strain introduced in a single event. Furthermore, our analyses of the Korean strains revealed low genetic diversity, a weak correlation between geographic and genetic distances, and an estimate for the time to the most recent common ancestor. This study provides genomic resources and insights into the genetic diversity of E. amylovora in South Korea. Our findings will support epidemiological investigations and the development of genome-based diagnostic tools for fire blight.