Isolation and enumeration of Serratia entomophila--a bacterial pathogen of the New Zealand grass grub, Costelytra zealandica
1993
O'Callaghan, M. | Jackson, T.A.
Several agar media were tested for their use in a selective isolation and identification scheme for Serratia entomophila, a bacterium causing amber disease of the New Zealand grass grub, Costelytra zealandica (White). Soil dilutions were plated on caprylate thallous agar (CTA), selective for Serratia spp. Most strains of Ser. entomophila grew well on CTA; the mean efficiency of colony formation on CTA was 94 +/- 3% of that on a non-selective medium. The identity of colonies growing on CTA was determined on the basis of their growth reactions on DNase-toluidine blue agar, adonitol agar and itaconate agar. Serratia entomophila could be distinguished from other Serratia spp. found in New Zealand soils, in particular Ser. proteamaculans, another causal agent of amber disease of grass grub. The identification scheme allowed the selective recovery of Ser. entomophila from field soils containing a diverse microflora.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library