The Genera Caulobacter and Asticcacaulis

Abstract

The genera Caulobacter and Asticcacaulis comprise dimorphic prosthecate bacteria which divide by asymmetric binary fission and whose cellular appendage (prostheca) is not involved in reproduction (Poindexter, 1964, 1974). In one species, A. biprosthecum, two lateral appendages are present on the prosthecate cell (Pate and Ordal, 1965; Pate, Porter, and Jordan, 1973); the remainder of the recognized Caulobacter and Asticcacaulis species have a single prostheca.