M [CR0-0RGAN ISMS 01? M M'l.i. SAP 



.V.I I 



Niederkorn (23) concluded that there are only two constant 

 forms, B. fluorescent liquefaciens Fliigge and B pyocyaneus 

 Gessard, among the following: 



Ruzicka (24) shows that B. pyocyaneus and B. fluorescens 

 liquefaciens vary so widely within the species and so overlap in 

 their cultural characters that no sharp line of differentiation be- 

 tween them can be drawn. 



Griffon (11) states that B. caulivorous, B. brassicaevorous 

 and B. aeruginosas are not to be considered as distinct species, 

 but only as forms of B. fluorescens which, under a favorable en- 

 vironment, easily changes from a saprophytic to a parasitic ex- 

 istence. He holds that B. aeruginosas is to be considered 

 synonymous with B. fluorescens putridus. 



According to various authors: B. fluorescens non-lique- 

 faciens is synonymous with B. fluorescens putridus and repre- 

 sentative of the group comprising Bacillus fluorescens tenuis. 

 Bacillus fluorescens aureus and Bacillus fluorescens erassus; 

 Bacillus viscosus Frankland is synonymous with Bacillus fluores- 

 cens liquefaciens, and Bacillus fluorescens fuscus corresponds to 

 Bacillus oogenes fluorescens. 



In view of the above citations it is evident that the fluo- 

 rescent organisms are closely related, probably being varieties of 

 one polymorphic species. Before stating the conclusions which 

 have been drawn concerning the number of species represented 

 in the seven strains of sap bacteria and the six known -train- 



