PCR-ribotyping of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolates from the Caribbean region in relation to the taxonomy and geographic distribution of their nematode hosts

A polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rRNA genes was used to study the genetic diversity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes. The 117 bacteria strains analyzed were isolated from the Caribbean region. The genus Xenorhabdus was distinguished from the genus Photorhabdus using cluster analysis. Results reveal that the genus Xenorhabdus is more diverse than the genus Photorhabdus. Moreover, the bacterial genotype diversity of both genera is congruent with the host-nematode taxonomy.