title: Diversity of endophytic enterobacteria associated with different host plants.
abstract: Fifty-three endophytic enterobacteria isolates from citrus, cocoa, eucalyptus, soybean, and sugar cane were evaluated for susceptibility to the antibiotics ampicillin and kanamycin, and cellulase production. Susceptibility was found on both tested antibiotics. However, in the case of ampicillin susceptibility changed according to the host plant, while all isolates were susceptible to kanamycin. Cellulase production also changed according to host plants. The diversity of these isolates was estimated by employing BOX-PCR genomic fingerprints and 16S rDNA sequencing. In total, twenty-three distinct operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified by employing a criterion of 60% fingerprint similarity as a surrogate for an OTU. The 23 OTUs belong to the Pantoea and Enterobacter genera, while their high diversity could be an indication of paraphyletic classification. Isolates representing nine different OTUs belong to Pantoea agglomerans, P. ananatis, P. stewartii, Enterobacter sp., and E. homaechei. The results of this study suggest that plant species may select endophytic bacterial genotypes. It has also become apparent that a review of the Pantoea/Enterobacter genera may be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Genetics Department, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, SP, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, P. O. Box 83, 13400-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adalgisa Ribeiro
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Welington Luiz
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cursino
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hungria
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Plotegher
authors.forename: Fábio Luís
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Mostasso
authors.forename: João Lúcio
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Azevedo