Fatty Acid and Protein Profiles of Streptomyces scabies Strains Isolated in Eastern Canada

Fatty acid composition was assessed for 31 pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains phenotypically related to Streptomyces scabies and isolated in eastern Canada. The profiles of these strains consisted of 12 to 17 fatty acids, most of which were saturated is0 and anteiso acids. The 31 strains were clustered into two groups within a Euclidian distance of 25. Members in the first group were characterized by the predominance in their profile of the 160 acid palmitate. The second group was split into two subgroups at a Euclidian distance of 12. The 150 anteiso acid was the predominant fatty acid in strains of the first subgroup. Three acids (150 iso, 150 anteiso, and 16:0), each representing about 20 % of the total fatty acid profile, characterized strains of the second subgroup. The protein profiles of some of those strains were also compared, and the genetic relatedness among the strains was estimated by DNA-DNA hybridization. Hybridization values suggested that two genetically diverse groups of strains are included in S. scabies. No correlation was established betwedn fatty acid profiles and genetic clusters. No distinctive characteristics were associated with pathogenic strains. Common scab of potato, found in all potato-growing areas of North America and Europe, is a disease which causes important economic losses in eastern Canada (12). The disease is characterized by superficial or deep corky lesions on tubers