PCR amplification of hydrogen cyanide biosynthetic locus hcnAB in Pseudomonas spp.

A PCR-based assay targeting hcnAB, essential genes for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) biosynthesis, allowed sensitive detection of HCN+ pseudomonads between logs 2.9 and 3.5 cells per PCR reaction tube. RFLP analysis revealed 13 allele combinations among selected 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol-producing (Phl+)HCN+, and 13 alleles in Phl− HCN+ strains from a global collection.