[Multiple change of phenotype, conjugated with the loss of yellow pigmentation of Erwinia herbicola]

Abstract

It has been shown that the loss of yellow pigmentation (phenotype Crt) of nonphotosynthesizing epiphyte bacterium Erwinia herbicola is accompanied by the loss of prototrophicity (phenotype Thi). Most Crt Thi-variants change the character of sensitivity to temperate erwiniophage E105 and bacteriocins (phenotype Ph/Bn). Some of them become sensitive to the killer effect of their own bacteriocins--autocins (phenotype Au). Multiple change of the phenotype in E. herbicola occurs so spontaneously as under variable growing of bacteria at the optimal and supraoptimal growth temperature. It is also established that the cells of one of the strains stop synthesizing the additional carotenoid or synthesize the changed products. It is shown that carotenoid synthesis in the cells of E. herbicola g157/5k may be reduced by means of transduction of the Crt phenotype by lipid-containing bacteriophage UA1. Multiple change of the phenotype connected with the loss of yellow pigmentation by E. herbicola was referred to the phenomenon of the population dissociation which is similar to that in E. carotovora.