Deinococcus deserti sp. nov., a gamma-radiation-tolerant bacterium isolated from the Sahara Desert.

Two gamma- and UV-radiation-tolerant, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strains, VCD115T and VCD117, were isolated from a mixture of sand samples collected in the Sahara Desert in Morocco and Tunisia, after exposure of the sand to 15 kGy gamma radiation. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and DNA-DNA hybridizations showed that VCD115T and VCD117 are members of a novel species belonging to the genus Deinococcus, with Deinococcus grandis as its closest relative. The DNA G+C contents of VCD115T and VCD117 are 59.

Transfer of Pectobacterium chrysanthemi (Burkholder et al. 1953) Brenner et al. 1973 and Brenneria paradisiaca to the genus Dickeya gen. nov. as Dickeya chrysanthemi comb. nov. and Dickeya paradisiaca comb. nov. and delineation of four novel species, Dickeya dadantii sp. nov., Dickeya dianthicola sp. nov., Dickeya dieffenbachiae sp. nov. and Dickeya zeae sp. nov.

A collection of 75 strains of Pectobacterium chrysanthemi (including all biovars and pathovars) and the type strains of Brenneria paradisiaca (CFBP 4178(T)) and Pectobacterium cypripedii (CFBP 3613(T)) were studied by DNA-DNA hybridization, numerical taxonomy of 121 phenotypic characteristics, serology and 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analyses. From analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, it was deduced that P. chrysanthemi strains and B.

Erwinia toletana sp. nov., associated with Pseudomonas savastanoi-induced tree knots.

Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from knots induced by Pseudomonas savastanoi in olive trees (Olea europaea L.). A total of nine endophytic bacterial strains were isolated, each from inside a different tree knot.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola can be separated into two genetic lineages distinguished by the possession of the phaseolotoxin biosynthetic cluster.

The bean (Phaseolus spp.) plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola is characterized by the ability to produce phaseolotoxin (Tox(+)).

Erwinia papayae sp. nov., a pathogen of papaya (Carica papaya).

Bacterial canker of papaya (Carica papaya) emerged during the 1980s in different islands of the Caribbean. Nineteen strains of Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria isolated from papaya were compared to 38 reference and type strains of phytopathogenic Enterobacteriaceae and related bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the papaya strains belonged to the genus Erwinia.

Acidovorax valerianellae sp. nov., a novel pathogen of lamb's lettuce [Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr].

Bacterial spot disease of lamb's lettuce [Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr.] was first observed in fields in 1991.

Ramlibacter tataouinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., and Ramlibacter henchirensis sp. nov., cyst-producing bacteria isolated from subdesert soil in Tunisia.

Ramlibacter gen. nov. is proposed for two aerobic, chemo-organotrophic, cyst-producing soil bacterial strains.

Elevation of three subspecies of Pectobacterium carotovorum to species level: Pectobacterium atrosepticum sp. nov., Pectobacterium betavasculorum sp. nov. and Pectobacterium wasabiae sp. nov.

A collection of 42 strains belonging to the five subspecies of Pectobacterium carotovorum (subspecies atrosepticum, betavasculorum, carotovorum, odoriferum and wasabiae) and 11 reference and type strains of biovars of Pectobacterium chrysanthemi, Pectobacterium cacticidum and Brenneria paradisiaca were studied by DNA-DNA hybridization, numerical taxonomy of 120 phenotypic characteristics, serology and new phylogenetic analysis of previously reported sequences from a database of aligned 16S rDNA sequences. The P. carotovorum subspecies formed a clade according to neighbour-joining methods, but they formed two paraphyletic clusters according to maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony.

Colonization of Vitis vinifera by a green fluorescence protein-labeled, gfp-marked strain of Xylophilus ampelinus, the causal agent of bacterial necrosis of grapevine.

The dynamics of Xylophilus ampelinus were studied in Vitis vinifera cv. Ugni blanc using gfp-marked bacterial strains to evaluate the relative importance of epiphytic and endophytic phases of plant colonization in disease development. Currently, bacterial necrosis of grapevine is of economic importance in vineyards in three regions in France: the Cognac, Armagnac, and Die areas.

Pseudomonas salomonii sp. nov., pathogenic on garlic, and Pseudomonas palleroniana sp. nov., isolated from rice.

A total of 26 strains, including 15 strains isolated from garlic plants with the typical symptoms of 'Café au lait' disease and 11 strains isolated from diseased or healthy rice seeds and sheaths infested by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae, were compared with 70 type or reference strains of oxidase-positive pathogenic or non-pathogenic fluorescent pseudomonads. The strains were characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Numerical taxonomy of phenotypic characteristics showed that the garlic and rice strains were related to each other.

Isolation of fluorescent pseudomonads from the rhizosphere of banana plants antagonistic towards root necrosing fungi.

Total aerobic bacteria and fluorescent pseudomonads were counted in bulk and rhizospheric soils of banana plants of 14 plantations in Martinique (French West Indies). Fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates were then identified and investigated for in vitro antagonism towards Cylindrocladium sp., a fungal pathogen of banana roots.