Reconstructing host range evolution of bacterial plant pathogens using Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and its close relatives as a model

► The phylogeny of 25 closely related plant pathogenic Pseudomonas syringae strains was determined using MLST. ► Strains were tested for host range on five different plant species. ► Combining phylogenetic data with host range data, reconstruction of host range of putative ancestors was attempted. ► Results provide a framework for a comparative genomics investigation into host range evolution.