THE TAXONOMY OF ACETOBACTER AND ALLIED OXIDATIVE BACTERIA

Abstract

Leifson's findings, that two different groups exist in currently adopted genus Acetobacter, the one including peritrichously flagellated or non-motile acetate-oxidizing species and the other including polarly flagellated or non- motile species which are unable to oxidize acetate, were fully confirmed.
In our present experiments, however, the latter group was considered to be assignable to Gluconobacter gen. nov. Asai, fomerly proposed by one of the authors.
It is therefore demonstrated, that the generic name of Gluconobacter should be revived instead of Acetomonas gen. nov. Leif son given for the latter group. The reasons supporting this view were discussed, and the following characters are to be mentioned especially: Genus Acetomonas Leifson lacks in producing a remarkable amonnt of acetic acid from ethanol as compared with redefined Acetobacter and it is rather proper to accumulate glu- conic acid to a high extent. Accordingly, from general considerations the generic name of Acetomonas was considered to be inappropriate and Gluconobacter more reasonable. Several new findings on the biochemical characters of Gluconobacter genus were also discussed.