CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM MICROPROPAGATED MINT PLANTS

Bacterial isolates from contaminated mint shoot cultures were characterized and identified as a preliminary step in determining an elimination treatment. The 22 bacteria were characterized using biochemical and morphological tests and subjected to sensitivity tests with four antibiotics. The isolates were compared with known organisms and assigned to genera according to similarities in characteristics. Seven isolates were analyzed by fatty acid analysis carried out by a commercial laboratory. Six were classified as Agrobacterium radiobacter; eight as Xanthomonas; one each as Pseudomonos fluorescens, Micrococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Curtobacterium spp.; four could not be assigned to genera. Inhibition of growth of the bacteria by most antibiotics was best at pH 7.5. Minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentrations of gentamicin, rifampicin, streptomycin sulfate, and Timentin varied with genotype.