Aims: The aim of this study was to develop a rapid PCR-based method for the specific detection of individual phylogroups of the Pseudomonas syringae complex.[br/] Methods and Results: Seven primer pairs were developed by analyzing whole genomes of 54 P. syringae strains. The specificity and sensitivity of these primer pairs were assessed on 236 strains from a large and comprehensive P. syringae collection. The method was also validated by characterizing the phylogenetic diversity of 174 putative P. syringae isolates from kiwifruit and apricot orchards of southeastern France.[br/] Conclusion: Our PCR-based method allows for the detection and characterization of 9 of the 13 P. syringae phylogroups (phylogroups 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13)....