Search

Two species of Pectobacterium which cause soft rot in Cucurbita pepo were identified, and their variability in response to biochemical tests was determined. The isolates corresponded to P. chrysanthemi and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum; however, there was no precise correlation between the isolations studied and the identifiers commonly used for species determination of this genus. The factorial analysis of correspondence showed that variability in results for the biochemical tests performed, classified the isolates into four groups: two related to P. chrysanthemi and two related to P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Variables that contributed the most to formation of groups were production of acid from lactose, sensitivity to erythromycin (15 μg/disk), the use of keto-methyl glucoside, and production of reducing substances from sacarose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]