Aim. To validate the suitability of commercial API 20E test-system (bioMerieux) for the identifi cation and characterization of facultative gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterial isolates. Methods. Conventional mi- crobiological methods, API 20E test-system (bioMerieux) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Re- sults. The identifi cation results for Erwinia amylovora, Pectobacterium carotovorum and Pantoea agglome- rans isolates were derived from the conventional and API 20E test systems, which, were in line with the literature data for these species. The API 20E test-system showed high suitability for P. agglomerans isolates identifi cation. Although not all the species of facultatively anaerobic phytopathogenic bacteria may be identi- fi ed using API 20E test-system, its application will surely allow obtaining reliable data about their physiologi- cal and biochemical properties, valuable for identifi cation of bacteria, in the course of 24 h. Conclusions. The results of tests, obtained for investigated species while using API 20E test-system, and those of conventional microbiological methods coincided. The application of API 20E test-system (bioMerieux) ensures fast obtain- ing of important data, which may be used to identify phytopathogenic bacteria of Erwinia, Pectobacterium, Pantoea genera.
