Abstract
Fifty-one of the Japanese strains and 29 of the Thai strains of Erwinia carotovora isolated from various kinds of soft rot vegetables were investigated for their pathological, physiological and biochemical properties. On the basis of pathogenicity to potato, tomato, onion and cucumber, they were seperated into 4 groups. On the basis of the production of reducing substances from sucrose, casein hydrolysis, indole production, acid production from palatinose, sorbitol and α-methyl-D-glucoside, they could be distinguished into 7 biovars. With the exception of the ability to grow at 36C, the properties of 3 biovars (A-C) were similar to E.c. subsp. atroseptica (Eca). Other biovars (D-G) were identified as E.c. subsp. carotovora (Ecc). No relationship was found between biovar and pathovar.
