SIMILARITY OF XANTHOMONAS AND PSEUDOMONAS DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID.

De Ley, J. (State University, Ghent, Belgium), and S. Friedman. Similarity of Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas deoxyribonucleic acid. J. Bacteriol. 89:1306-1309. 1965.-Pronounced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization was detected with the DNA-agar method within the group of Xanthomonas and between Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas. Sheared, denatured C(14)-DNA from X. pelargonii hybridized 80 to 100% with high molecular weight, denatured agar-bound DNA from eight different Xanthomonas nomenspecies. The near identity of the DNA in these nine strains favors their inclusion in one genetic species, for which the name Xanthomonas campestris is proposed. In addition, 60 to 80% of the Xanthomonas DNA hybridized with DNA from several Pseudomonas strains. These results are evidence of the close genetic relationship between the two genera.