Characterization of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens by Pyrolysis Gas-Liquid Chromatography, Deoxyribonucleic Acid-Deoxyribonucleic Acid Hybridization, Biochemical Tests, and API Systems

Eight strains each of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were analyzed by using pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography. Statistical analysis with canonical variates gave four well-separated groups, which represented the four species. Further analysis of the same strains by deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization and API identification systems confirmed the discrimination obtained with pyrolysis gasliquid chromatography. However, analysis by biochemical tests performed in the classical way gave only three groups since it was not possible to achieve separation of the strains representing B. subtilis from those of B. amyloliquefaciens when these tests were used.