Numerical Taxonomy of Some Named Bacterial Cultures

Forty-two cultures, representing 22 genera of bacteria, were tested for 123 properties. The data obtained were coded and subjected to Adansonian analysis by electronic computer. At 80% or greater similarity levels, six distinct groups were present: group 1, which contained the enterobacteria and Aeromonas; group 2 contained Pseudomonas, Vibrio cuneatus, Achromobacter, and Acinetobacter; group 3 contained Agrobacterium; group 4, the largest cluster, had two subgroups, 4a, containing the Gram-positive cocci, Nocardia, Mycobacterium, and Arthrobacter spp., and 4b, containing the streptomycetes; group 5 contained Cytophaga and group 6, containing Bacillus spp., Bacillus pantothenticus, and Protaminobacter alboflavus, did not share a high phenetic similarity with any of the above cultures and the clusters were regarded as isolated and single-item. The results confirmed earlier indications that the evaluation of taxonomic relationships by numerical methods can indicate areas in need of closer examination.