3 BIOVARS OF AGROBACTERIUM SHOW DISTINCT POLYAMINE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS

Biovar 1 strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, A. radiobacter and A. r hizogenes contained mainly spermidine, while biovar 2 strains of A. tu mefaciens and A. rhizogenes contained homospermidine as the major poly amine. Both spermidine and homospermidine were found as the major poly amines in Agrobacterium biovar 3 strains named as a new species, A. vi tis. Polyamine distribution patterns serve as a chemotaxonomic marker to separate Agrobacterium into three biovar groups. The polyamine comp osition of A. rubi was similar to that of Agrobacterium biovar 1.