Short rods 1·7 μm × 0·7 μm, with monotrichous polar flagella insertion. Obligate aerobe. Does not grow in 0·2% triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. Produces the polysaccharide polymer xanthan from glucose as precursor. Some strains do not produce xanthomonadin. Some produce diffusible magenta-fuscous pigments in many media. Differentiated from all other Xanthomonas spp. by MLSA based on a concatenated sequence of dnaK, fyuA, gyrB and rpoD. Expresses a distinct fatty acid profile, differentiation from other Xanthomonas spp. being indicated by difference in peaks of 14:0, 15:0, 16:0, 13:0 iso 3OH, 11:0 iso, 14:0 iso, 15:0 anteiso, 16:0 iso, 17:0 iso, a combined peak (16:1 ω7c/16:1 ω6c), and a peak represented by (iso 17:1 ω9c). Positive auxanographic reactions are given by dextrin, glycogen, d-cellobiose, d-fructose, l-fucose, d-galactose, α-d-glucose, d-psicose, sucrose, d-trehalose, pyruvate methyl ester, succinate, bromo-succinate and l-glutamate. Negative reactions are given by α -cyclo-dextrin, N-acetyl-d-galactosamine, adonitol, d-arabitol, l-erithrytol, myo-inositol, α-d-lactose, maltose, β-methyl-d-glucoside, l-rhamnose, d-sorbitol, xylitol, acetate, formate, d-galacturonate lactone, d-gluconate, d-glucosaminate, glucuronate, α-hydroxybuyrate, β-hydroxybuyrate, γ-hydroxybuyrate, p-hydroxy phenylacetate, itaconate, α-keto-valerate, malonate, propionate, quinate, sebacate, glucuronamide, l-asparagine, l-aspartate, glycyl-l-aspartate, l-histidine, l-leucine, l-ornithine, l-phenylalanine, l-pyroglutamate, d-serine, l-threonine, d,l-carnitine, γ-aminobutyrate, uridine, thymidine, phenylethylamine, putrescine, 2-aminoethanol and 2, 3-butanediol. Isolated from symptoms on Aralia sp., Diospyros kaki, Dysoxylum spectabile, Eriostemon myoporoides, Eucalyptus spp., Laurelia novae-zelandiae, Metrosideros excelsa and Olea europaea.

Proposed type strain: ICMP 12167 = CFBP 7245 = NCPPB 4446.