3 7. Achrofnobacter 



The three genera of the family Achromobacteriaceae appear to 

 be rather closely related and a definite distinction cannot always 

 be made between them. Peritrichoiisly flagellated gram-negative 

 rods are found in the soil which produce just the faintest trace of 

 acid in carbohydrate media and the differentiation of these from 

 Alcaligenes species is difficult. Organisms of the same physiological 

 nature are also found in the soil which produce a cream colored 

 or faint yellow pigment. These are on the borderline betsveen 

 Flavohacterium and Achromobacter and differentiation is difficult. 

 A few cultures of Achromobacter were studied. They were ob- 

 tained from various sources and some were old stock strains labeled 

 Alcaligenes. Much can be said in favor of combining Alcaligenes 

 and Achromobacter into one genus. 



Flagellar Characteristics 



All of the more typical cultures studied had peritrichous 

 flagella with normal curvature (Fig. 39). The flagellation was 

 generally fair to poor. The average wavelength of the strains 

 studied was 2.39 microns. 



92 



