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Chemical composition of extracellular polysaccharides of cowpea rhizobia

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Abstract

The extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of six strains of cowpea rhizobia were examined. The strains (MI50A, M6-7B, IRC253) produced polysaccharides containing glucose, galactose and mannose in a molar ratio of 2:1.1:1, 1:1.3:3.1 and 1:1.3:3.5 respectively. Two strains (513-B and Ez-Aesch) produced polysaccharides containing galactose and mannose in a molar ratio of 2:3. Mannose was the only sugar detected in the EPS of strain IRC291. Pyruvate, acetate, glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid were not detected in any strain.

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Abbreviations

EPS:

Extracellular polysaccharide

YEMA:

yeast-extract mannitol agar

YEMB:

yeast extract mannitol broth

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Author notes

  1. Rawle Hollingsworth

    Present address: Dept. of Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica

    Rawle Hollingsworth, Eustace Smith & M. H. Ahmad

Authors
  1. Rawle Hollingsworth
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  2. Eustace Smith
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  3. M. H. Ahmad
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Hollingsworth, R., Smith, E. & Ahmad, M.H. Chemical composition of extracellular polysaccharides of cowpea rhizobia. Arch. Microbiol. 142, 18–20 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409230

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409230

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