Deoxyribonucleic Acid Homologies Among Some Pseudomonas Species

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships among a number of strains belonging to the genus Pseudomonas were explored by the use of in vitro deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization. The fluorescent nomenspecies ( P. fluorescens, P. putida, P. aeruginosa, P. cichorii, P. syringae , and related species), as well as the nonfluorescent species P. stutzeri, P. mendocina, P. alcaligenes , and P. pseudoalcaligenes , were shown to belong to a single DNA homology complex which is isolated from other Pseudomonas species that have been studied [ P. cepacia (= P. multivorans ), P. caryophylli, P. marginata (= P. alliicola ), P. pseudomallei, P. acidovorans, P. testosteroni, P. solanacearum, P. diminuta, P. facilis, P. delafieldii, P. saccharophila, P. palleronii ]. A limited numerical analysis of the phenotypic properties of the examined strains supported, with some exceptions, their previous allocation to nomenspecies and biotypes. The internal structure and nomenclature of the “ P. fluorescens homology complex” are discussed.