Rp. Li et Ic. Macrae, ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF N2-FIXING ENTEROBACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH SUGARCANE IN TROPICAL AUSTRALIA, Journal of General and Applied Microbiology, 38(6), 1992, pp. 523-531
The nitrogenase activities of enterobacteria isolated from sugarcane r
oots and sugarcane waste products were usually 100-400 nmol C2H4/cultu
re/h. The isolates were characterized both phenotypically and chromoso
mally. Four phenotypic groups were differentiated. Group 1 isolates we
re identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae by computer-aided Microbact Sys
tem 24 E and showed over 70% DNA homology with Klebsiella pneumoniae U
QM 90. Isolates of group 3 and group 4 were identified as Enterobacter
cloacae and Enterobacter agglomerans respectively by the Microbact 24
E, but DNA-DNA hybridization studies suggested that isolates of these
2 groups belonged to the same species and did not belong to either En
terobacter cloacae or Enterobacter agglomerans. Group 2 isolates were
identified as Enterobacter agglomerans by the Microbact 24 E, but G C% and DNA-DNA hybridization studies contradicted this identification.
The G +C% values and phenotypic characteristics indicated that group
2 isolates might represent a new species of the genus Klebsiella while
the isolates of group 3 and group 4 together could constitute a new s
pecies of the genus Enterobacter.