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Studies on the utilisation of carbohydrates and krebs cycle intermediates by Rhizobia, using an agar plate method

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Abstract

An agar plate method for the testing of substrate utilisation is described, and is applied to 108 strains of bacteria belonging to the generaRhizobium andAgrobacterium. With this method, utilisation can be observed without misleading results due to the utilisation of amino acids and other substances present in the medium. Major differences in the utilisation of carbohydrates by the tested species are apparent. In general, strains of fast-growing root-nodule bacteria and agrobacteria were similar in reaction, giving vigorous growth with most of the carbon sources tested. Slow-growing root-nodule bacteria were more specific in their requirements, with most strains utilising only glucose, sodium citrate, xylose, mannitol, arabinose, galactose and fructose. Only six of the 108 strains tested utilised dextrin. The results are related to previous studies on rhizobial taxonomy, and the value of carbohydrate utilisation as a diagnostic feature is discussed.

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Author notes

  1. P. H. Graham

    Present address: Department of Agriculture, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia

    P. H. Graham

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  1. P. H. Graham
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Graham, P.H. Studies on the utilisation of carbohydrates and krebs cycle intermediates by Rhizobia, using an agar plate method. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 30, 68–72 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02046703

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02046703

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