Genomics of agricultural microbes (plant pathogens and symbionts)
Although the first microbial genome was sequenced in 1995, the first agricultural microbe, a citrus pathogen (Xylella fastidiosa) was sequenced only in the year 2000. During 2000-2002, several agricultural microbes were used for whole genome sequencing. Some of these microbes include the following: (i) Ralstonia solanacearum (a chromosome of 3.6 Mb + a plasmid of 2.1 Mb) that causes bacterial wilt disease in more than 200 plant species belonging to 40 different families; (ii) two species of Xanthomonas (X. axonon podis  pv citir, formerly known as X. citri, causing citrus, canker disease and X. campestris, a well known pathogen of crucifers), infecting a variety of crop plants including rice, cotton, citrus, grape and bean; (iii) Magnaporthe grisea, an Ascomycetes, causing rice blast, (iv) Phytopthora spp (P. infestans causing late blight of potato and P. sojae, causing root and stem rot of soybean), and (v) Rhizobium meliloti, a well known symbiotic bacterium.

The information generated from whole genome sequencing of these microbes (including fungi) will prove useful not only in developing strategies for plant protection and disease management, but also in designing strategies for beneficial plant-microbe interactions for improved productivity.