Pseudomonas is a large and heterogeneous genus, and these bacteria exhibit varied lifestyles in a wide range of environments, including soil, water, plant surfaces, and animals. Due to their roles in bioremediation, biological control, diseases of plants and animals, and many other environmental processes, the metabolic capacities and ecological functions of these bacteria have been widely studied. The project calls for genomic sequences of all type strains of Pseudomonas spp. to provide reference genomes for ongoing studies of environmental microbiomes. A genomic framework for understanding the relationships among members of this important bacterial group is needed, but genomic sequences are available for type strains of only one third of the 146 named species of Pseudomonas.
Proposer’s Name: Joyce Loper, USDA-ARS