Studies on the taxonomy of the Myxobacterales. I. Record of Canadian isolates and survey of methods.

One hundred and sixty-seven pure cultures have been isolated from among 338 myxobacteria obtained from Essex county (Ontario) soil samples by various methods. The fruiting body characteristics used in the characterization of the Myxobacterales have been found to be variable and unstable. However, the order may be considered to consist of two broad groups based on vegetative cell morphology and the formation of microcysts. A proposal is made to divide the genus Chondromyces into Stigmatella and Chondromyces and to assign the latter to the family Sorangiaceae. A number of biochemical tests have been found useful in identification and some are correlated with morphological features.The paper includes 42 color photographs as an aid for other investigators in the identification of the Myxobacterales.