Colony morphogenesis in a group of cellulose degrading Gram negative rods from brackish habitats

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Abstract
Cellulose degrading bacteria were isolated from brackish Phragmites reed beds near the Humber Estuary. Of 23 strains brought into pure culture, all developed characteristic differentiated colonies on certain media. On the basis of colour of the colonies (pseudosori) the organisms could be allocated to two groups, XMo and XMb. Related strains were isolated from a similar habitat on the Dee Estuary. Numerical taxonomy showed the group to be relatively diverse but, with a single exception, the XMo and XMb organisms appeared in separate clusters. The organisms were weakly motile or non‐motile and certain cells had a polar flagellum. Pigments isolated from one strain had u.v. spectral characteristics similar to those of the xanthomonadins; the organisms may therefore be related to Xanthomonas.