Charakterisierung von Erwinia-stämmen insbesondere der Herbicola-Gruppe durch Chinone der Atmungskette und Enzyme des Fumarat-Stoffwechsels

Abstract

Phenotypical characterization of 50 strains of the genus Erwinia including the species Enterobacter agglomerans on the basis of 80 conventional characters does not enable an unequivocal differentiation of the various Erwinia strains.

With respect to respiratory quinones and fumarate metabolism, which are considered to be criteria of great taxonomic significance, the Erwinia/Enterobacter species could be devided into four groups.

The members of groups 1 and 2, containing a soluble NADH-fumarate reductase or no and only ubiquinone do not represent the “true” genus Erwinia. These groups are different from the family Enterobacteraceae and may characterize a new taxon.

The homogeneity of group 1 was confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridization of some strains with the type strain of Enterobacter agglomerans (NCTC 9381).

The members of groups 3 and 4, which contain both ubiquinone and menaquinone and a membrane-bound NADH-fumarate reductase resp. NAD-fumarate oxidase, resemble the members of the family Enterobacteraceae including the genus Pectobacterium with respect to these criteria.