BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENTEROBACTER-AGGLOMERANS AND RELATED STRAINS FOUND IN BUCKWHEAT SEEDS

Thirty strains of bacteria were randomly isolated and identified from buckwheat seeds. The phenotypic characteristics of these strains agree well with those of the Enterobacter agglomerans-Erwinia herbicola com plex. On the basis of the difference in indole production and gas prod uction from D-glucose, the isolates were divided into 3 phenotypic gro ups, viz. I, II and III. Twenty two strains were in phenotypic group I , which is negative for indole production and gas production from D-gl ucose, and resembles Pantoea agglomerans. All six strains in phenotypi c group II, which is positive for indole production and negative for g as production from D-glucose, were identified as Erwinia ananas. Two s trains in phenotypic group III, which is negative for indole productio n and positive for gas production from D-glucose, were identified as R ahnella aquatilis.