No abstract

A survey was made of the NaCl tolerance of approximately 1,300 Streptomyces strains belonging to 313 species. The growth medium of the organisms was supplemented with a graded series of NaCl concentrations (4, 7, 10, and 13%). Only 1.8% of the species could not tolerate 4% NaCl; 26.9% could grow at a maximum of 4%; 49.7% could tolerate a maximum of 7%; 18.8% could grow at a maximum of 10%; and only 2.8% could tolerate 13% NaCl. In evaluating the relationships of NaCl tolerance to various taxonomic features, higher tolerance was statistically associated with the "yellow" and possibly the "white"-spored streptomycetes, whereas the "red"-spored series tended to have lesser tolerance. Higher tolerance was also indicated for spiny-spored species, as a group, than for smooth-spored forms. Likewise, nonproducers of melanin, collectively, were more NaCl tolerant than melanin-producing species. Uniformity of test responses between strains of species studied suggested the usefulness of NaCl tolerance as a taxonomic criterion.

A survey was made of the NaCl tolerance of 975 species of terrestrial fungi selected from the major taxonomic classes. The penicillia and aspergilli were notably the most resistant with the majority of their species able to grow in the presence of 20% or more of NaCl. The Basidiomycetes , as a class, were decidedly the least tolerant with over half the species unable to withstand more than 2% NaCl. Uniformity of tolerance by multiple strains of various species suggests that this may provide a useful taxonomic criterion.

A survey was made of the NaCl tolerance of approximately 1,300 Streptomyces strains belonging to 313 species. The growth medium of the organisms was supplemented with a graded series of NaCl concentrations (4, 7, 10, and 13%). Only 1.8% of the species could not tolerate 4% NaCl; 26.9% could grow at a maximum of 4%; 49.7% could tolerate a maximum of 7%; 18.8% could grow at a maximum of 10%; and only 2.8% could tolerate 13% NaCl. In evaluating the relationships of NaCl tolerance to various taxonomic features, higher tolerance was statistically associated with the “yellow” and possibly the “white”-spored streptomycetes, whereas the “red”-spored series tended to have lesser tolerance. Higher tolerance was also indicated for spiny-spored species, as a group, than for smooth-spored forms. Likewise, nonproducers of melanin, collectively, were more NaCl tolerant than melanin-producing species. Uniformity of test responses between strains of species studied suggested the usefulness of NaCl tolerance as a taxonomic criterion.

ABSTRACT. I n a t a x o n o m i c s t u d y of 3 5 " v i o l e ts p o r e d " s t r e p t o m y c e t e s c e r t a i n e s s e n t i a l d i ff e r e n c e s w e r e e n c o u n t e r e d a m o n g t h e d i f f e re n t m e m b e r s , W h e n t h e o r g a n i s m s w e r e c l a s - O n e of t h e g r o u p s w a s a l r e a d y r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e s p ec i e s S t r e p t o m y c e s v i o l a s c e n s G a u z e ; h o w e v e r , t h e o t h e r g r o u p c o n t a i n e d o r g a n i s m s h e r e t of o r e u n d e s c r i b e d i n t h e t a x o n o m i c l i t e r a t u r e ,A n e w s p e c i e s S t r e p t o m y c e s w i s t a r i o p s i s i s , t h e r e f o r e , p r o p o s e d a n d d e s c r i b e d t o r e p r es e n t t h i s g r o u p .The violet spore color s e r i e s of the streptomycetes i s comprised of notably colorful and unusual species having spore shades ranging from violet to lilac (Tresner and Backus 1963). In our experience, members have been isolated mostly from high latitude soils under forest cover. As far a s can be determined only two species have been adequat ely de s c r ibed in the taxonomic liter atur e -St r e ptomy ce s violascens Gauze 1957 and S. mauvecolor Okami et Umezawa (5 Murase e t al. 1961). Based on their published descriptions, these two species appear to be synonymous, in which case the name S. violascens should have 'priority., A considerable wealth of violet-spored specimens has been accumulated over the y e a r s in our antibiotic screening program. More than half of our isolates a r e strains of S. violascens. In the remainder, certain significant taxonomTc features a r e found which cannot be encompassed by this species. The present work was undertaken with the aim of establishing the new specific categorynecessary for accommodating these organisms and distinguishing them from the already established species.