Gluconobacter oxydans subsp. sphaericus, New Subspecies Isolated From Grapes

A new subspecies, Gluconobacter oxydans subsp. sphaericus, is described. This subspecies differs from the other subspecies of G. oxydans, the only species recognized in the genus Gluconobacter, both in its morphology and in its vitamin requirement for growth: The cells of the new subspecies are spherical at any age of culture and in all environments tested, and the organism requires nicotinic acid for growth; it differs from all other gluconobacters in that it does not require pantothenic acid. The type strain is IFO 12467.