SEROLOGICAL REACTIVITY OF AZOSPIRILLUM-BRASILENSE

Ten strains of A. brasilense were examined for their agglutination and immuno diffusion reactions with their antisera. The immunodiffusion reactions showed the presence of 5 to 11 antigens in whole cells, harvested from stationary phase cultures. In cells harvested from cultures earlier than stationary phase, a few antigens were missing. Sonication or heat treatment of cells was necessary for the reactions of some antigens in many strains. Many antigens were highly water soluble and some were heat labile. Antigen-antibody reactions were more affected by antiserum dilutions than antigen dilutions, and the immunodiffusion reactions were more specific and reliable than agglutination reactions.