title: Numerical and DNA: DNA reassociation analyses of Erwinia rubrifaciens and other members of the Enterobacteriaceae.
abstract: Phenetic data on 75 strains of Erwinia and other representative genera of the Enterobacteriaceae were collected and analysed using two numerical taxonomic methods. In both methods the same subclusters were recovered. The subclusters, however, were defined at different similarity levels and were classified into clusters of different composition. Erwinia rubrifaciens strains formed a very tight, homogeneous subcluster, completely distinct and readily distinguishable from other Erwinia and enterobacteria species studied. DNA: DNA hybridization between E. rubrifaciens and Erwinia and Shigella species were analysed to corroborate the numerical classifications. A good correlation between the numerical and DNA: DNA hybridization analyses was found and provided sufficient evidence for not supporting the previously proposed subspecific taxonomic position of E. rubrifaciens. The data clearly showed that E. rubrifaciens is a separate species in its own right. Based on the existence of very high genetic relatedness and high similarities in phenetic characters among E. rubrifaciens strains and the confinement of the pathogen to the state of California, the hypothesis is offered that E. rubrifaciens originated from a single source.
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004885:Erwinia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial