Classification of strains of Xanthomonas oryzae on the basis of their susceptibility against bacteriophages

Abstract

Xanthomonas oryzae bacteriophage collected from various places of Japan could be classified into 4 strains, OP₁, OP_1h, OP_1h2 and OP₂ on the basis of their host range. It appeared that OP₁ and OP_1h2 were the ones more extensively distributed than the other phage strains in Japan.
On the basis of susceptibility to these phage strains, 82 isolates of X. oryzae collected from various places of Japan were classified into 5 strains as follows;
A strain: Susceptible to OP₁, OP_1h2 and OP₂ but not to OP_1h
B strain: Susceptible to OP_1h, OP_1h2 and OP₂ but not to OP₁
C strain: Resistant to all of these phages
D strain: Susceptible to OP_1h2 and OP₂ but not to OP₁ and OP_1h
E strain: Susceptible to OP₂ but not to OP₁, OP_1h and OP_1h2
Of these bacterial strains, A strain was the one most widely and commonly distributed in Japan, followed by B, D, C, and E strains in decending order. There was found no specific rule in the distribution pattern of these strains.