The difference of carbon source utilization and fatty acid composition between the pathotypes of Xanthomonas strains, which causing citrus bacterial canker was compared, and the physiochemical characteristics were used to analyze relationship of the strains for the first time. The pattern of several carbon sources utilization and fatty acids composition reliably discriminated the pathotypes of Xanthomonas strains. The dendrogram which was constructed by 95 carbon source utilization profiles differentiated X. axonopodis pv. citri A, A* and Aw from the other pathotypes. When the dendrogram was drawn by combined analysis of carbon source utilization pattern and fatty acid composition, X. axonopodis pv. aurantifolii B, C and X. axonopodis pv. citrumelo formed a distinct cluster. The difference of carbon source utilization and fatty acid composition could be used effectively for the identification of pathotypes of citrus bacterial canker. The physiochemical characteristics strongly indicated that the strains isolated in Korea belong to X. axonopodis pv. citri A type. The cluster analysis by the band patterns of ERIC-, BOX- and REP-PCR allowed the discrimination of the pathotypes isolated from Korea. However, the rep- PCRs could not differentiate X. axonopodis pv. citri A types from A* and Aw types. The overall results of metabolic profiles and rep-PCRs strongly indicated that the Korean isolates are X. axonopodis pv. citri A type.