What characteristic is associated with Burkholderia cepacia?

Burkholderia cepacia is characterized by having polar tufts of flagella, which is a distinctive trait that aids in its motility. This means that the organism is capable of movement via flagella that are located at one or both ends in tufts, allowing it to navigate its environment effectively. This characteristic is particularly relevant in clinical microbiology, as it impacts how the organism can spread and inhabit various environments, including the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients and other clinical settings.

The other options do not accurately represent the characteristics of Burkholderia cepacia. For example, non-motility would be incorrect as motility is a key feature of this organism due to its flagella. Similarly, while Burkholderia cepacia can produce colonies on agar, they do not specifically produce black colonies, which is more typical of organisms like certain types of Pseudomonas. Lastly, fermentation of lactose is not a characteristic of Burkholderia cepacia; in fact, it is typically known for being lactose non-fermenting, distinguishing its metabolic profile from other organisms that might ferment lactose. Therefore, the presence of polar tufts of flagella serves as a clear identifying feature of Burkholderia cepacia.