Numerical and DNA: DNA Reassociation Analyses of Erwinia rubrifaciens and Other Members of the Enterobacteriaceae

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Abstract
Phenetic data on 75 strains of Erwinia and other representative genera of the Enterobacteriaceae were collected and analyzed using 2 numerical taxonomic methods. In both methods the same subclusters were recovered. The subclusters were defined at different similarity levels and were classified into clusters of different composition. F. rubrifaciens strains formed a very tight, homogeneous subcluster, completely distinct and readily distinguishable from other Erwinia and enterobacteria species studied. DNA:DNA hybridizations between E. rubrifaciens and Erwina and Shigella spp. were analyzed to corroborate the numerical classifications. A good correlation between the numerical and DNA:DNA hybridization analyses was found and provided sufficient evidence for not supporting the previously proposed subspecific taxonomic position of E. rubrifaciens. E. rubrifaciens is a separate species in its own right. Based on the existence of very high genetic relatedness and high similarities in phenetic characters among E. rubrifaciens strains and the confinement of the pathogen to the state of California (USA), one may suppose that E. rubrifaciens originated from a single source.