Index >>Prokaryotes Microbes >>Nonfruiting Active Cellulolytic Forms

Non Fruiting Active Cellulolytic Forms - These gliding bacteria de not form fruiting bodies and they differ markedly from the myxobacteria (including the nonfruiting myxobacters) in their DNA base compo­sition which lies in the range of 30 to 50 mole per cent G+C. Resting cells are formed only in the genus Sporocytophaga, which produces microcysts, similar to Myxococcus.

The other two principal genera are Cytophaga and Flexibacter. The cells are rods, that may also be in chains in Flexihacter. Most of these are strict aerobes, a few Cytophaga and Flexihacter spp. are facultative anaerobes. The most active aerobic cellulose-decomposing bacteria in soil are certain species of Cytophaga and Sporocytophaga

The chitinolytic and agarolytic cytophages are much less specialised nutritionally than the cellulolytic species. They can also use wide range of soluble sugars. Fruiting myxobacteria fall into two nutritional subgroups bacteriolytic and cellulolytic organisms. The majority of them are bacteriolytic, growing on live or dead cells. Live cells are killed by antibiotics secreted by them. Most myxobacteria do not readily form fruiting bodies on media that support good vegetative growth. Media, poor in nutrients favour fructification.