[About the decomposition of acetamide as taxonomic marker for some species of the genus pseudomonas (author's transl)].

The comparative examination of the acetamide-decompostition and of the acetamide-utilisation as sole source of carbon demonstrates that various groups of the Pseudomonas species with the same kind of reaction have to be distinguished. The acetamide-decomposition-test according to BUHLMANN et al. and the methylene-blue-reduction-test show homogeneous results. As a positive result of these tests the formation of ammonia has always been shown. An acetamide decomposition of this kind has been demonstrable with P. aeruginosa, P. acidovorans and many P. cepacia strains. On liquid mineral media containing acetamide P. fluorescens, P. putida and P. pseudomallei show growth although ammonia is not produced and the test according to BUHLMANN et al. as well as the methylene-blue-reduction-test result negatively. In all tests P. alcaligenes, P. marginata, P. caryophilli and with certain exceptions P. sutzeri and P. putrefaciens react negatively.