Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes subsp. citrulli subsp. nov.

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Abstract
Ten nonfluorescent Pseudomonas strains isolated from water-soaked lesions on cotyledons of plants of 5 Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) plant introductions were characterized and compared phenotypically with 22 other pseudomonads. The strains were distinguished phenotypically from other known plant pathogenic pseudomonads. The watermelon bacterium was aerobic. Cells were rod-shaped, gram negative and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. They were nonfluorescent and grew at 41.degree. C but not at 4.degree. C. Oxidase production and the 2-ketogluconate reaction were positive. The 10 strains utilized .beta.-alanine, L-leucine, D-serine, n-propanal, ethanol, ethanolamine, citrate and fructose for growth. No growth occurred with sucrose of glucose. Their DNA base composition was 66 .+-. 1 mol% guanine plus cytosine. The bacterium is phenotypically similar to P. pseudoalcaligenes but differs from it in being pathogenic to watermelon, Cucumis melo (cantaloupe), C.sativus (cucumber) and Cucurbita pepo (squash). The name of P. pseudoalcaligenes ssp. citrulli is proposed for the new subspecies, of which strain C-42 (= ATCC 29625) is the type strain.