Researchers at the Public University of Navarra, the Polytechnic¹ University of Madrid (CBGP), the University of Malaga, the University of Wisconsin and the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research have managed to sequence the genome of the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis²（肺结核） in the olive tree. The study, included in the June issue of Environmental Microbiology, represents the first sequencing of the genome of a pathogenic bacteria（致病菌） undertaken in Spain, being the first genome known worldwide of a pathogenic Pseudomonas（假单胞菌） in woody plants. The sequencing of the genome of this pathogen opens the doors to the identification of the genes³ responsible for the virulence⁴（毒性，恶意） of this bacteria and its survival on the philosphere (leaf surface), thus facilitating the design of specific strategies in the fight against the disease and enabling drawing up programmes for the genetic⁵ improvement of olive groves⁶.

Pseudomonas savastanoi（油橄榄癌肿病菌） is the agent that gives rise to tuberculosis in the olive tree, a disease that causes important losses in the olive crops in Spain. Trees affected⁷ present tumours⁸ (known as verrucas疣，赘肉) that can grow to several centimetres diameter in trunks, branches, stalks and buds. Diseased trees are less robust⁹ and have less growth, to the point of being non-productive if the attack is very intense. To date, due to the absence of effective methods of control, preventive strategies have been carried out, reducing populations of bacteria with phytosanitary（植物检疫的） treatment.

New strategies

Plant diseases produced by pathogenic microorganisms not only reduce production but can also alter the quality of the food and drastically（激烈地，彻底地） diminish the commercial value of the crops. The new strategies for disease control today involve the analysis of information contained in the genome of pathogenic organisms. Similar to what has happened with the human genome, this technology is generating a great amount of valuable information for the development of innovative¹⁰ technologies, that will enable identifying and controlling the pathogen（病原体，病菌） as well as obtaining new varieties of the host plant that have greater resistance to the disease.