一株链霉菌21-1的分离鉴定及其对禾谷镰刀菌的抑菌活性

【背景】由禾谷镰刀菌(Fusarium graminearum)引起的小麦赤霉病严重威胁我国的小麦生产。【目的】筛选对禾谷镰刀菌具有拮抗能力的链霉菌菌株,为生防菌剂开发提供理论基础。【方法】利用平板对峙法筛选对禾谷镰刀菌具有拮抗能力的链霉菌;通过形态特征、生理生化特征和16S rRNA基因序列分析对其进行鉴定;通过病原菌菌丝生长、孢子产生及萌发抑制试验分析其发酵液的抑菌活性;利用人工接种试验测定该菌株发酵液的防病效果。【结果】筛选到一株对禾谷镰刀菌具有较强拮抗活性的链霉菌21-1,抑菌率为59.5%。依据形态特征、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列分析,将该菌株鉴定为黄三素链霉菌(Streptomycesflavotricini)。菌株21-1发酵液能够抑制禾谷镰刀菌的菌丝生长、孢子产生及萌发过程,而且可以降低禾谷镰刀菌菌丝中可溶性蛋白质的含量,并增加丙二醛的含量。菌株21-1可以产生蛋白酶及纤维素酶。菌株21-1菌液10倍稀释液对小麦赤霉病的防效最佳,为70.1%。此外,菌株21-1发酵液对其他8种植物病原菌均有较好的抑制作用。【结论】菌株21-1对禾谷镰刀菌有较好的抑菌活性,具...     

植物精油对大菱鲆弧菌的体外和体内抗菌活性

【目的】研究天然植物精油对大菱鲆弧菌的体外和体内抗菌活性。【方法】采用纸片扩散法和微量肉汤稀释法对14种植物精油或其组分的体外抑菌活性进行检测;通过细菌形态透射电镜观察、胞内乳酸脱氢酶及核酸释放研究山苍子精油对大菱鲆弧菌的膜损伤作用;采用大菱鲆人工攻毒感染实验研究山苍子精油的体内抗菌作用。【结果】14种植物精油或其组分对大菱鲆弧菌具有不同程度的抑制效果,其中肉桂醛的抗菌活性最强,最低抑菌浓度为0.25μL/m L;百里香酚、丁香酚、柠檬醛和山苍子的抗菌活性次之,最低抑菌浓度为0.5μL/m L;山苍子精油可破坏大菱鲆弧菌的细胞膜,并导致胞内蛋白酶和核酸外泄;经200μL/L山苍子精油浸浴后,大菱鲆攻毒后死亡率由对照组50%降至0。【结论】富含芳香醛、芳香酚和柠檬醛的植物精油对大菱鲆弧菌具有良好抗菌活性,有望替代抗生素用于大菱鲆弧菌病的防治。     

独蒜兰提取物对植物病原真菌的抑菌活性

【目的】研究独蒜兰假鳞茎乙醇提取物对植物病原真菌的抑菌作用,为植物源杀菌剂的开发提供依据。【方法】采用菌丝生长速率法,研究独蒜兰假鳞茎乙醇提取物对15种植物病原菌的抑制活性;以西瓜尖孢镰刀菌作为供试菌,进一步研究该提取物对病原真菌的菌丝干重、细胞膜、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）等的影响。【结果】独蒜兰假鳞茎提取物对辣椒疫霉病菌、西瓜尖孢镰刀菌、番茄灰霉病菌和非洲隐地疫霉菌的抑菌效果明显,其EC₅₀值分别为0.849、0.782、0.813和1.161 mg·mL^-1;经独蒜兰提取物处理后的西瓜尖孢镰刀菌菌丝干重随着药剂浓度的增加而减少;细胞膜丙二醛含量和相对电导率增加;菌丝体细胞内CAT、POD和SOD 3种保护酶活性增加。【结论】独蒜兰假鳞茎提取物对植物病原真菌具有较好的抑菌活性,其抑菌作用可能与其干扰菌丝生长、使菌丝细胞膜正常功能受损等有关。     

枯草芽孢杆菌对几种植物病原真菌的抑菌活性

枯草芽孢杆菌是目前国内外比较具有应用潜力的生防菌种之一。本文主要研究了枯草芽孢杆菌菌液对几种植物病原菌的菌丝抑制试验、菌丝形态影响试验以及分生孢子萌发抑制试验,了解枯草芽孢杆菌菌液对尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型、灰葡萄孢、茄病镰刀菌、大丽轮枝菌、麦根腐平脐蠕孢、尖孢镰刀菌的抑制作用及抑菌机理。结果显示:枯草芽孢杆菌菌液对6种病原真菌的菌丝形态、菌丝生长、产孢和分生孢子萌发都有明显的破坏或抑制作用。用枯草芽孢杆菌菌液处理尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型、灰葡萄孢、茄病镰刀菌、大丽轮枝菌、麦根腐平脐蠕孢、尖孢镰刀菌后,在PDA培养基上均形成了明显的抑菌圈,直径达3. 00 cm左右;菌液处理后分生孢子的萌发率仅30%左右。显微镜观察发现,处理组菌丝生长异常,体表凹凸不平,局部膨大,分枝变多,原生质体外泄。研究表明枯草芽孢杆菌菌株对尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型、灰葡萄孢、茄病镰刀菌、大丽轮枝菌、麦根腐平脐蠕孢和尖孢镰刀菌有良好的抑制作用,并且可以有效控制尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型、灰葡萄孢、茄病镰刀菌、大丽轮枝菌、麦根腐平脐蠕孢和尖孢镰刀菌病害的发生。     

马铃薯糖苷生物碱对腐皮镰刀菌呼吸作用及其活性氧代谢的影响

【背景】腐皮镰刀菌(Fusariumsolani)是一种分布较为广泛的致病性真菌,可引起多种植物的土传病害,是枸杞根腐病的主要致病菌之一。马铃薯糖苷生物碱(potatoglycosidealkaloids,PGA)为一类植物源提取物,其原材料种植广泛、成本低廉,对腐皮镰刀菌具有较强的抑菌活性。【目的】探究PGA对腐皮镰刀菌呼吸作用及活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)代谢的影响,从能量代谢角度揭示其可能的抑菌机理。【方法】以马铃薯芽为原材料,采用乙酸-氨水沉淀法提取PGA,以腐皮镰刀菌为供试病原菌,通过PDA和PDB培养体系考察PGA对腐皮镰刀菌菌丝生长的抑制作用,并确定半最大效应浓度(EC50);采用氧电极仪检测PGA对腐皮镰刀菌呼吸作用的影响;并通过PDB液态培养试验体系,研究PGA对腐皮镰刀菌抗氧化酶系统、ROS及其代谢产物丙二醛(malondialdehyde, MDA)的影响。【结果】PGA处理下菌丝体呼吸速率明显下降,且随着PGA处理时间的延长,表现出一定的时间浓度效应。PGA处理使胞内过氧化氢(H2O2)和超氧阴离子(O2-)含量显著增高(P...     

生物表面活性剂鼠李糖脂对甘蔗黑穗病菌的体外抗菌活性

【背景】甘蔗黑穗病是一种主要的甘蔗病害,易造成甘蔗严重减产;鼠李糖脂是一种生物表面活性剂,可作为多种植物真菌病害的抑菌剂。【目的】研究生物表面活性剂鼠李糖脂对甘蔗黑穗病菌的体外抗菌活性及初步的抗菌机理。【方法】采用甘蔗黑穗病冬孢子萌发试验研究鼠李糖脂对甘蔗黑穗病冬孢子的抗菌作用。采用菌丝生长速率法和菌丝干重法对鼠李糖脂的体外抑菌试验进行检测;通过菌丝电导率的变化研究鼠李糖脂对甘蔗黑穗病菌细胞膜通透性的影响。【结果】鼠李糖脂能显著抑制甘蔗黑穗病菌孢子萌发,其中2.0 g/L鼠李糖脂对甘蔗黑穗病冬孢子萌发的抑制效果最好,抑制率达45.03%。鼠李糖脂能显著抑制甘蔗黑穗病菌双核菌丝体、单胞菌a和单胞菌b的生长。鼠李糖脂能使甘蔗黑穗病单胞菌细胞膜透性增加,与对照相比,2.0 g/L鼠李糖脂处理甘蔗黑穗病双核菌丝体0.5min后电导率升高了约9倍,处理单胞菌a30min后电导率提高了94.23%;0.1g/L鼠李糖脂处理甘蔗黑穗病单胞菌b30min后电导率升高了54.49%,随着浓度的增加,各处理电导率升高显著。【结论】鼠李糖脂对甘蔗黑穗病菌有良好的抗菌作用,有望为甘蔗黑穗病的防治提供新方法。     

小麦赤霉病拮抗菌JB7的拮抗活性及鉴定

由禾谷镰刀菌(Fusarium graminearum, Fg)引起的赤霉病是限制小麦生产的主要病害之一。生物防治是一种高效且可持续的防治方法。【目的】从小麦种子内筛选具有抑制禾谷镰刀菌的菌株并对其生防潜力进行评估,为小麦赤霉病生防制剂的开发与利用提供菌种资源及理论支撑。【方法】采用平板对峙、孢子萌发法和无菌上清液抑菌试验筛选小麦种子内对禾谷镰刀菌具有拮抗活性的内生菌株;利用扫描电镜(scanning electron microscope, SEM)和共聚焦扫描电镜(confocal laser scanning microscope, CLSM)观察并分析无菌上清液对Fg的分生孢子形态、膜完整性以及胞内活性氧的影响;通过盆栽试验验证内生菌对小麦赤霉病的生防效果;应用二代Illumina HiSeq测序平台进行全基因组测序。【结果】从小麦种子中分离出一株高效抑制Fg生长的内生菌株JB7,其衰亡期无菌上清液对Fg孢子萌发抑制率高达85.23%。菌株JB7的无菌上清液使Fg孢子表面凹陷,破坏其细胞膜,造成核酸和蛋白质的渗漏,诱导Fg菌丝活性氧的累积,引起Fg菌丝可溶性蛋白和丙二醛含量的显著升高。该菌株具有分泌蛋白酶、纤维素酶、葡聚糖酶和产铁载体的能力。盆栽试验表明菌株JB7能显著降低小麦赤霉病的病情指数(P<0.05)。经全基因组学鉴定为甲基营养型芽孢杆菌(Bacillus methylotrophicus) JB7,该菌株基因组中含有12个抑菌功能的次级代谢产物合成基因簇。【结论】菌株JB7能抑制禾谷镰刀菌的生长,对小麦赤霉病有较强的防效,可作为生物防治小麦赤霉病的候选菌株。     

有机栽培龙脑百里香精油对白色念珠菌体外抑菌活性的研究

【背景】白色念珠菌(Candidaalbicans)属于条件致病性真菌,可引起严重的黏膜真菌感染及全身系统性真菌感染,是导致患者高发病率和高死亡率的主要菌群之一。【目的】探究百里香精油对白色念珠菌的抑菌活性及抑制机理。【方法】测定5种百里香精油对白色念珠菌的抑菌圈直径,分析具有高抑菌活性的精油成分。在此基础上,通过扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscope, SEM)观察精油对白色念珠菌菌体细胞形态的影响。测定碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase, AKP)含量、胞外溶液电导率并进行碘化丙啶(propidium iodide, PI)染色分析,探究精油对白色念珠菌生物膜的形成与黏附及磷脂酶活性的影响,并通过实时荧光定量PCR法分析与白色念珠菌生物膜形成相关基因(凝集素样序列基因ALS4,从酵母型向菌丝型细胞的形态转变基因HWP1、磷脂酶基因PLB1)的表达水平,探究该精油对白色念珠菌的抑菌机制。【结果】筛选出了对白色念珠菌高度敏感的有机栽培龙脑百里香精油(Thymus vulgaris CT borneol essential oil, T...     

Endomelanconiopsis microspora发酵产物乙酸乙酯提取物对人参核盘菌的抑制机理

【背景】人参菌核病是人参的主要病害之一,严重影响人参的产量。【目的】探索白花蒲公英内生菌(Endomelanconiopsis microspora)发酵产物乙酸乙酯提取物对人参核盘菌的抑制机理。【方法】采用人参核盘菌菌丝生长和孢子萌发试验测定抑制效果;采用显微镜观察菌丝形态变化,通过电导率和核酸含量的变化测定细胞膜通透性,通过丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化物酶(peroxidase,POD)和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活力的变化测定膜脂过氧化程度。【结果】内生菌E. microspora发酵产物乙酸乙酯提取物能显著抑制人参核盘菌菌丝生长,最小抑菌浓度为3.75 mg/mL,培养6 d后抑制率为76.22%。该提取物能显著抑制人参核盘菌孢子萌发,15.00 mg/mL时抑制效果最好,抑制率达90.69%。提取物影响菌丝形态,增加人参核盘菌细胞膜通透性,造成菌丝内含物外渗,7.50 mg/mL处理10 h后电导率和核酸含量分别比对照组增加30.11%和62.85%。同时提取物显著增加人参核盘菌MDA含量和SOD、POD、CAT活力,7.50 mg/mL处理组呈现先上升后下降的变化趋势,并在12 h时达到最高值。【结论】内生菌E. microspora发酵产物乙酸乙酯提取物通过改变人参核盘菌细胞膜通透性,加剧膜脂过氧化,破坏细胞膜完整性,导致细胞内含物流失,显著抑制孢子萌发和菌丝生长。     

鄂西北产苍耳子甲醇粗提物抑菌活性及其清除DPPH能力的初步评价

采用生长速率法、孢子萌发法及DPPH自由基清除法,对产自鄂西北的野生植物苍耳子粗提物体外抑菌活性及抗氧化性进行了初步测定.结果表明,苍耳子甲醇粗提物对绿色木霉、黄瓜灰霉菌、黑曲霉、终极腐霉、尖镰孢菌黄瓜专化型五种病原真菌均有一定的抑制作用,其中无论是抑制菌丝生长还是孢子萌发,均对黑曲霉显示出了显著的抑制活性.实验结果也...     

Y-chromosome Data and Tribal Affiliations of Allenopithecus and Miopithecus

The phylogeny of Old World monkeys has remained unresolved in part because of a lack of resolution in the Cercopithecinae. Competing morphological hypotheses have had Allen's swamp monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis) and the talapoins (Miopithecus spp.) as basal branches of either the tribe Cercopithecini or the tribe Papionini. Previous molecular analyses have not adequately addressed the issue. To better understand the evolutionary history of these primates, we sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis 3.1 kb of 2 loci (TSPY and SRY) from the non-recombining portion of the Y-chromosome. Individuals from the genera Allenopithecus, Miopithecus, Erythrocebus, Chlorocebus, and Cercopithecus were surveyed and their sequences compared with those previously published for the Papionini and Colobinae. The results suggest Allenopithecus and Miopithecus are more closely related to the Cercopithecini than Papionini. Our data also support the hypothesis that within the Cercopithecini, Erythrocebus and Chlorocebus share a close evolutionary relationship, distinct from the other members of the tribe.     

Nystatin and killer toxin sensitivity of free and immobilizedSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The inhibitory effect of nystatin and killer toxin on the growth of free and covalently-immobilizedSaccharomyces cerevisiae cells was studied. The resistance of immobilized cells to both agents was accompanied by increased amounts of phospholipids and sterols. The possible relationship between these changes in the membrane composition and the transduction of a signal across the cytoplasmic membrane is discussed.     

The hernandez and fernandez genes of Drosophila specify eye and antenna

The formation of different structures in Drosophila depends on the combined activities of selector genes and signaling pathways. For instance, the antenna requires the selector gene homothorax, which distinguishes between the leg and the antenna and can specify distal antenna if expressed ectopically. Similarly, the eye is formed by a group of "eye-specifying" genes, among them eyeless, which can direct eye development ectopically. We report here the characterization of the hernandez and fernandez genes, expressed in the antennal and eye primordia of the eye-antenna imaginal disc. The predicted proteins encoded by these two genes have 27% common amino acids and include a Pipsqueak domain. Reduced expression of either hernandez or fernandez mildly affects antenna and eye development, while the inactivation of both genes partially transforms distal antenna into leg. Ectopic expression of either of the two genes results in two different phenotypes: it can form distal antenna, activating genes like homothorax, spineless, and spalt, and it can promote eye development and activates eyeless. Reciprocally, eyeless can induce hernandez and fernandez expression, and homothorax and spineless can activate both hernandez and fernandez when ectopically expressed. The formation of eye by these genes seems to require Notch signaling, since the induction of ectopic eyes and the activation of eyeless by the hernandez gene are suppressed when the Notch function is compromised. Our results show that the hernandez and fernandez genes are required for antennal and eye development and are also able to specify eye or antenna ectopically.     

Ovule and seed anatomy ofCistaceae and relatedMalvanae

Ovule and especially seed anatomy of eight species ofCochlospermaceae, Bixaceae, Cistaceae, Monotoideae, Pakaraimaeoideae (two subfamilies ofDipterocarpaceae), andSarcolaenaceae were investigated. All representatives show a bixoid chalazal region in the seed as probable exclusive synapomorphy among angiosperms. The palisade layer of the exotegmen is curved inwards at its proximal end and forms a dome-shaped structure. A plug of hypostase tissue with an annulus/core structure fits into this dome. Moreover, two additional tissue types in the hypostase can be found in some representatives of the group. These and other micromorphological, wood anatomical, and floral morphological characters, indicate that the taxa form a monophyletic group close toMalvales s. str. The form of the starch grains in the endosperm is compared and is described for the first time forPakaraimaea (Dipterocarpaceae) andLeptolaena (Sarcolaenaceae). The position ofDiegodendron close toBixa and the presumably more distant positions ofMuntingia andNeuradaceae are discussed.     

Amino acids and sugars in nectar,and their putative evolutionary significance

Individual amino acids and sugars from flower nectar of 32 plant species with different pollination systems were quantified and compared. Data show that there is no correlation between sugar and amino acid concentration. Furthermore there is no correlation between composition and concentration of amino acids and evolutionary advancement, nor any direct relation with pollination systems. However, higher sugar concentrations are often linked with more advanced morphological characters. Nectars from pierced or damaged flowers or nectars contaminated with pollen exhibit modifications and increases in amino acid composition. The presence of proline probably indicates such pollen contamination. Most pollinating animals depend on flower nectar in their energetic requirements, yet innumerable alternative amino acid and protein sources exist. Future research has to consider the relationship between nutritional requirements of pollinating animals and dependence on flower nectars.Dedicated to Prof. Dr.L. van der Pijl, Den Haag, in honour of his 80th birthday.     

Cyclooxygenase inhibitory and antioxidant cyanidin glycosides in cherries and berries

Anthocyanins from tart cherries, Prunus cerasus L. (Rosaceae) cv. Balaton and Montmorency; sweet cherries, Prunus avium L. (Rosaceae); bilberries, Vaccinum myrtillus L. (Ericaceae); blackberries, Rubus sp. (Rosaceae); blueberries var. Jersey, Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae); cranberries var. Early Black, Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. (Ericaceae); elderberries, Sambucus canadensis (Caprifoliaceae); raspberries, Rubus idaeus (Rosaceae); and strawberries var. Honeoye, Fragaria x ananassa Duch. (Rosaceae), were investigated for cyclooxygenase inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The presence and levels of cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside 1 and cyanidin-3-rutinoside 2 were determined in the fruits using HPLC. The antioxidant activity of anthocyanins from cherries was comparable to the commercial antioxidants, tert-butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole, and superior to vitamin E, at a test concentration of 125 microg/ml. Anthocyanins from raspberries and sweet cherries demonstrated 45% and 47% cyclooxygenase-I and cyclooxygenase-II inhibitory activities, respectively, when assayed at 125 microg/ml. The cyclooxygenase inhibitory activities of anthocyanins from these fruits were comparable to those of ibuprofen and naproxen at 10 microM concentrations. Anthocyanins 1 and 2 are present in both cherries and raspberry. The yields of pure anthocyanins 1 and 2 in 100 g Balaton and Montmorency tart cherries, sweet cherries and raspberries were 21, 16.5; 11, 5; 4.95, 21; and 4.65, 13.5 mg, respectively. Fresh blackberries and strawberries contained only anthocyanin 2 in yields of 24 and 22.5 mg/100 g, respectively. Anthocyanins 1 and 2 were not found in bilberries, blueberries, cranberries or elderberries.     

Development and function of Pisolithus and Scleroderma ectomycorrhizas formed in vivo with Allocasuarina,Casuarina and Eucalyptus

The effect of inoculating seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis, Allocasuarina littoralis and Casuarina equisetifolia with two isolates of Pisolithus and two isolates of Scleroderma from under eucalypts was examined in a glasshouse trial. Ectomycorrhizas formed extensively on Eucalyptus (23–46% fine roots ectomycorrhizal) and Allocasuarina (18–51% fine roots ectomycorrhizal). On Casuarina, the fungi were either unable to colonize the rhizosphere (one isolate of Pisolithus), or sheathed roots, resembling ectomycorrhizas, formed on 1–2% of the fine roots. Colonization of roots by one isolate of Scleroderma resulted in the death of Casuarina seedlings. Inoculation with fungi increased shoot dry weight by up to a factor of 32 (Eucalyptus), 4 (Allocasuarina) and 3 (Casuarina). Ectomycorrhizas formed in associations with Eucalyptus and Allocasuarina had fully differentiated mantles and Hartig nets in which the host and fungal cells were linked by an extensive fibrillar matrix. Sheathed roots in Casuarina lacked a Hartig net, and the epidermis showed a hypersensitive reaction resulting in wall thickening and cell death. The sheaths are described as mantles since the density and arrangement of the hyphae in the sheaths was similar to that in mantles of the eucalypt ectomycorrhizas. The intercellular carbohydrate matrix was not produced in the Casuarina mantle in association with Pisolithus, hence the mantle was not cemented to the root. These structures differ from poorly compatible associations described previously for Pisolithus and Eucalyptus. The anatomical data indicate that ectomycorrhizal assessment based on surface morphological features may be misleading in ecological studies because compatible and incompatible associations may not be distinguishable.     

Pollen morphology ofSonchus and related genera,and a general discussion

The pollen morphology of the taxa belonging to the generaAetheorhiza Cass.,Launaea Cass.,Reichardia Roth andSonchus L. in the Iberian Peninsula has been studied with light and electron microscopy. The pollen is 3(-4)-zonocolporate and echinolophate (without polar lacunae, but in general with prelacunae), with equatorial ridges and 15–20 lacunae: 3–4 poral, 6–8 abporal and 6–8 paraporal. Small to medium size, P × E = 19–36 × 23–42 µm; sometimes two different sizes have been found. Exine 3–9 µm thick and ornamentation microreticulate and echinate. The results clearly show the relationships between genera. Moreno-Socías, E., Mejías, J. A., Díez, M. J., 1994: Morfología polínica deLactuceae (Asteraceae) en la Península Ibérica, I.Lactuca y géneros relacionados. — Acta Bot. Malacitana.19: 103–113.     

Utilized and potentially utilizable seaweeds on the Namibian coast: biogeography and accessibility

Of the 1500 km coast of Namibia, only 80 km is predominantly rocky, the remaining 1420 km being sandy with only minor rocky outcrops. At present two species are utilized, Gracilaria verrucosa for agar and Laminaria schinzii for human consumption. Other potentially utilizable seaweeds occurring on the coast are Ecklonia maxima for alginates, Suhria vittata for agar, Gigartina radula, G. stiriata and Aeodes orbitosa for carrageenans and Porphyra capensis for human consumption. Laminaria schinzii also can be used for alginate production. Due to the diamond-mining areas around the 80 km rocky area at Luderitz (26° 39 S), only 20 km are accessible; hence, at present the seaweeds are being exploited almost to their full potential. The species currently not being utilized could be used, however, to support the industry that already exists at Luderitz. To increase production, access to the diamond areas would have to be gained or a cultivation program initiated.     

Molecular identification and differentiation of Brevibacterium species and strains

Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction enzyme analysis (ARDRA), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ribotyping were used to differentiate among 24 strains of Brevibacterium linens, Brevibacterium casei and Brevibacterium epidermidis obtained from type culture collections or isolated from various smear ripened cheeses. ARDRA was applied to the 16S rDNA. B. linens was shown to be a quite heterogenic group with 2 to at least 4 copies of rrn operons per strain with aberrant nucleotide sequences. AccI gave genus specific restriction patterns and was used to separate Brevibacterium from Corynebacterium species. The expected species specificity of TaqI applied to B. linens type culture strains, but not to all strains isolated from cheese. By AvaI restriction, B. casei and B. linens were differentiated from B. epidermidis and the orange pigmented Arthrobacter casei, a new species of coryneform bacteria; by XmnI restriction, B. linens and B. epidermidis were differentiated from B. casei. One of 4 B. linens genotypes could not be distinguished from B. casei by this method. Here, the typical orange B. linens pigments were used for classification, which was confirmed by partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA.