X. Li et Sh. Deboer, COMPARISON OF 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENES IN CLAVIBACTER-MICHIGANENSIS SUBSPECIES WITH OTHER CORYNEFORM BACTERIA, Canadian journal of microbiology, 41(10), 1995, pp. 925-929
Nearly complete sequences (97-99%) of the 16S rRNA genes were determin
ed for type strains of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis,
Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. insidiosus, Clavibacter michiganensi
s subsp. sepedonicus, and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensi
s. The four subspecies had less than 1% dissimilarity in their 16S rRN
A genes. Comparative studies indicated that the C. michiganensis subsp
. shared relatively high homology with the 16S rRNA gene of Clavibacte
r xyli. Further comparison with representatives of other Gram-positive
coryneform and related bacteria with high G+C% values showed that thi
s group of bacteria was subdivided into three clusters. One cluster co
nsisted of the Clavibacter michiganensis subsp., Clavibacter xyli, Art
hrobacter globiformis, Arthrobacter simplex, and Frankia sp.; another
cluster consisted of members of the corynebacteria-mycobacteria-nocard
ia (CMN) group of Mycobacteriaceae including Tsukamurella paur ometabo
lum; and Propionibacterium freudenreichii alone formed a unique cluste
r, which was remote from other coryneform bacteria analyzed. The three
clusters may reflect a systematic rank higher than the genus level am
ong these bacteria.