A STUDY OF MARINE MYXOBACTERIA

Abstract : An investigation was undertaken to study the marine members of the order Myxobacteriales. Samples of mud, sea water, sediments, cores, and plankton tows were plated on a variety of media. Myxobacteria were isolated from most of the samples. Eight types were chosen for study on the basis of general properties which included: colonial characteristics and pigmentation, microscopic cellular differences, action on agar, and the presence or absence of microcysts. Characterization of the 8 isolates was based on studies involving cytological and morphological investigations, biochemical and physiological differentiation, nutritive requirements, and enzymatic activity. The investigation showed that: (1) all the isolates had typical myxobacterial characteristics; (2) all were aerobic and none used cellulose; (3) a wide range of nutritional requirements existed among the different species; and (4) a typical glycolytic scheme was present in 3 of the isolates. On the basis of these different characters, 5 different species were recognized.