Index >> Actinorhizal Plants (Frankia Induced Nodulation) >>Taxonomy of Frankia

Taxonomy of Frankia
Speciation in Frankia has been a difficult proposition and none of the criteria (physiological, genetical or otherwise) have been satisfactory. As mentioned earlier, infectivity criterion has also been misleading and informed workers in the field have agreed that species naming in Frankia should be deferred until a clear picture emerges.

Presently, designation of a strain is done with codes for each culture collection and upto 10 numeri­cal digits for each research group, the first two numbers reflecting the source of a strain. For example, the University of Leiden would be ULN, the University of Laval ULQ and so on followed by 00 for soil, 01 for Alnus, 02 for Casuarina etc;HFP 020203 indicates Harvard Forest Petersham and 02 refers to Casuarina, the remaining digits referring to the number given to the isolate by the culture collection centre
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