Characteristics of Pseudomonas solanacearum

Summary: A collection of 185 isolates of Pseudomonas solanacearum has been classified into 4 biotypes according to their capacity to oxidize 3 disaccharides (lactose, maltose and cellobiose) and 3 hexose alcohols (mannitol, sorbitol and dulcitol). Biotype 2 which oxidized the disaccharides but not the hexose alcohols appears to have a restricted host range; it was obtained solely from two plant hosts, potato and tomato, whereas biotype 1, which oxidized neither group of carbohydrates, and biotype 3 which oxidized both, were obtained from a diversity of plant hosts. A bacteriophage isolated from material infected with biotype 2 showed a high degree of specificity for isolates of biotype 2. The present known distribution of the 4 biotypes is given and their relationship to host range is discussed. A neotype culture for Ps. solanacearum is proposed.