INFLUENCE OF SUBCULTURING SOME PHYTOPATHOGENIC BACTERIA ON THEIR CARBOHYDRATE UTILIZING PROFILE

The capability of carbohydrate utilization shown by some freshly-isola ted phytopathogenic bacteria (i.e. Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, Ps.s, pv. actinidiae, Ps.s. pv. lachrymans, Ps. cichorii, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris) was assessed by means of the API system and compared with that shown by the same isolates when they were subseque ntly subcultured for 1 week and for 1 month on nutrient agar and on th e medium B of King et al. All isolates showed a differential capabilit y of utilization during the subcultures of the laboratory culture medi a. In some cases, the utilization of some carbohydrates was not shown during the in vitro growth. On the other hand, the life on bacterial c ulture media induced the capability to utilize other carbohydrates. Th e need for standardization of recent techniques for the assessment of organic compound utilization is stressed.