Four methods of isolation of common superficial and deep scab were tested with the purpose of characterizing the isolates of Streptomyces scabies according to morphological and serological criteria and their pathogenicity. For isolation, obtained in water-agar at pH 10, a medium containing antibiotics, asparagine medium and coloidal quitin medium were tested. Water-agar pH 10 was the most efficient medium, giving rise to 129 colonies/Petri dishes, besides being of easy preparation, lower cost and giving better visualization of the colonies. The antibiotic medium gave an average of 54% of plated potato tuber fragments that yielded Streptomyces spp. growth. Asparagine and coloidal quitin showed averages of 36,3 and 2,5 colonies/Petri dish, respectively. For characterization of isolates, the yeast extract and malt medium were used, resulting in colony colors ranging from gray to brown and from white to cream, with and without production of pigment. The colonies formed flexuous or spiral spore chains, with variable size and producing or not aerial mycelium in spiral colonies. Nineteen isolates representing the different cultural and morphological types were inoculated in potato (Solanum tuberorum) cv. Monalisa through infestation of sterilized soil before the sowing of the seed tubers. Typical symptoms of the disease were reproduced 14 weeks after inoculation by eight isolates. Antisera produced in rabbits against three pathogenic isolates showed serological reaction (double diffusion in Ouchterlony gel-agar) for the homologous antigens and for few heterologous antigens. Streptomyces spp. isolates with confirmed pathogenicity did not show antigens in common.
