Role of photolyase in stress tolerance and virulence of plant-pathogenic bacterium <i>Pseudomonas cichorii</i> JBC1

, highlighting the importance of light-responsive DNA repair systems in plant-associated bacteria. IMPORTANCE: not only facilitates efficient repair of UV-induced DNA but also plays a critical role in maintaining intracellular redox balance. Loss of Pc-Phr led to excessive accumulation of ROS, increased sensitivity to environmental stress, and reduced bacterial fitness. Importantly, Pc-Phr contributes to virulence-associated traits, including adhesion to host surfaces, colonization, and survival in planta, revealing a direct link between photoreactivation, oxidative stress tolerance, and pathogenicity. These findings expand the functional scope of photolyases beyond genome maintenance and reveal their significance in environmental adaptation and plant-microbe interactions.