Identification Key for Coryneform Bacteria Derived by Numerical Taxonomic Studies

Abstract

Six main groups were formed from a complete linkage dendrogram on 557 bacteria tested for 53 physiological features. The organisms were obtained from culture collections and included representatives of the following genera: Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium, Caseobacter, Cellulomonas, Corynebacterium, Curtobacterium, Micrococcus, Microbacterium, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Oerskovia and Rhodococcus. The 6 groups were individually subjected to a numerical taxononic analysis based on linkage maps, which resulted in a total of 33 subclusters. An identification key to determine the affiliation of the bacteria to the 6 main clusters and 5 group-specific schemes is presented. Reference strains are proposed for the 33 subclusters.