STRAINS OF PANTOEA AGGLOMERANS FROM PLANTS: SEROLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND ANTAGONISM TO ERWINIA AMYLOVORA

A total of 97 Pantoea agglomerans isolates was collected from trees of the Pomoidae subfamily at various localities in the Czech Republic. Their immunological characteristics were determined using seven polyclonal antibodies previously generated against seven representative antigens of P. agglomerans from seven biochemically different groups. Serological reactivity patterns of strains of P. agglomerans were compared with the antagonistic efficacy of P. agglomerans to Erwinia amylovora. Screening of P. agglomerans isolates for antagonism was performed in vitro using the method of nutrient agar plates seeded by E. amylovora. Some antagonistic effects against E. amylovora exhibited 60.8% of these 97 P. agglomerans isolates. There was no interrelationship between serological reactivity patterns of P. agglomerans isolates and their antagonistic efficacy to E. amylovora.