[Numerical taxonomy of verticillate actinomycetes].

The paper discusses several methods used in numeric classification of verticillate actinomycetes. A method is suggested to estimate different significance of their characteristics. The use of the principle of nonequivalent characteristics has been found to increase the differentiating role of the most genetically stable traits, which makes it possible to reduce the number of necessary calculations using computers in the numeric taxonomy of actinomycetes. The production of polyene substances is the most informative property in the sampling of actinomycetes under study. The use of the methods of numeric taxonomy yields a system of actinomycetes that is most close to only one among the known systems for phenotypical classification of verticillate actinomycetes; therefore, the latter is a genuine one.