1 3 . Mycoplana 



A culture of each of the two species of Mycoplana, Mycoplana 

 dimorpha and Mycoplana bullata (Fig. 15) were received from 

 Dr. Wilham B. Haynes of the Northern Regional Research Labora- 

 tory in Peoria, Illinois. The history of these cultures show that 

 they were received by the Peoria Laboratory directly from Dr. 

 Thornton and presumably are authentic. Physiologically both cul- 

 tures showed some differences from the original description as 

 recorded in the Bergey Manual. Neither strain reduced nitrate to 

 either nitrite or nitrogen gas. Both strains oxidized glucose, di- 

 morpha with slight acidity and bullata with considerable acidity. 



Flagellar Characteristics 



M. dimorpha was rather poorly flagellated with most often one 

 flagellum per organism, fairly often two flagella, and occasionally 

 three or four flagella per organism. The flagellar arrangement was 

 peritrichous. No flagellar variants were seen. The average wave- 

 length was 1.57 microns with amphtude of 0.56 micron. M. bul- 

 lata was very motile and well flagellated with polar monotrichous 

 flagella. Only one type of flagella was seen. The flagellar wave- 

 length was very short averaging only 0.91 micron. 



ToxoNOMic Comments 



The writer cannot see much, if any, justification for the con- 

 tinued existence of the genus Mi/coplaiia. M. bullata fits very well 

 into the genus Pseudomonas. Its somewhat unusual flagellar curva- 

 ture and, perhaps, physiology would justify retention of the specific 

 epithet and the organism could well be named Pseudomonas bul- 

 lata comb. nov. M. dimorpha could well fit into the genus Achro- 

 mobacter. As a matter of fact the characteristics given for 

 Achromobacter cycloclastes in Bergey's Manual agree more closely 

 with the characteristics of the strain of M. dimorpha studied than 

 with the characteristics given for M. dimorpha. The suggestion is 

 made that M. dimorpha be considered a synonym of Achromo- 

 bacter cycloclastes and that the genus Mycoplana be dropped. 



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