Lysobacter terrae sp. nov. isolated from Aglaia odorata rhizosphere soil.

A Gram-stain negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain THG-A13(T), was isolated from Aglaia odorata rhizosphere soil in Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-A13(T) had close similarity with Lysobacter niabensis GH34-4(T) (98.5 %), Lysobacter oryzae YC6269(T) (97.9 %) and Lysobacter yangpyeongensis GH19-3(T) (97.3 %). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain THG-A13(T) possesses ubiquinone-8 (Q8) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol) and diphosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content was 66.3 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG-A13(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbours were below 18.0 %. These data corroborated the affiliation of strain THG-A13(T) to the genus Lysobacter. These data suggest that the isolate represents a novel species for which the name Lysobacter terrae sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-A13(T) as the type strain ( = KACC 17646(T) = JCM 19613(T)).

Microbacterium kyungheense sp. nov. and Microbacterium jejuense sp. nov., isolated from salty soil.

Two novel strains, THG-C26(T) and THG-C31(T), were characterized using a polyphasic approach to determine their taxonomic positions. These two isolates were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. 16S rRNA gene sequences and phenotypic features including chemotaxonomic characteristics indicated that the two isolates clearly represented members of the genus Microbacterium. The quinone systems of strains THG-C26(T) and THG-C31(T) contained MK-12/MK-13 as major menaquinones. The diamino acid in cell-wall hydrolysates of the two strains was ornithine. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The polyamine pattern had spermidine as the predominant component. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and unidentified glycolipids. Phenotypic characteristics supported the affiliation of strains THG-C26(T) and THG-C31(T) to the genus Microbacterium. Chemotaxonomic data and DNA-DNA relatedness values allowed differentiation of these strains from other species of the genus Microbacterium with validly published names. Strains THG-C26(T) and THG-C31(T) showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Microbacterium resistens DMMZ 1710(T) (98.5%) and Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum IFO 15077(T) (98.8%), respectively, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between them was 99.0%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between the novel isolates and strains of other species of the genus Microbacterium with validly published names were 4-25%. Therefore, strains THG-C26(T) and THG-C31(T) are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the names Microbacterium kyungheense sp. nov. [type strain THG-C26(T) ( = KACC 17124(T) = JCM 18735(T))] and Microbacterium jejuense sp. nov. [type strain THG-C31(T) ( = KACC 17123(T) = JCM 18734(T))] are proposed.

Taibaiella koreensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field.

A Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, motile (by gliding), non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated THG-DT86(T), was isolated from soil of a ginseng field of Pocheon province in the Republic of Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Growth occurred at 10-35 °C, at pH 6.5-8.5 and with 0-1.5 % (w/v) NaCl on trypticase soy agar. Flexirubin-type pigments were found to be present. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG-DT86(T) was shown to belong to the genus Taibaiella and was related to Taibaiella smilacinae PTJT-5(T) (95.3 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 50.1 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-DT86(T) was menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and the only polyamine was homospermidine. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0, and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophosphoglycolipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid. Phenotypic data and phylogenetic inference supported the affiliation of strain THG-DT86(T) to the genus Taibaiella, and a number of biochemical tests differentiated strain THG-DT86(T) from the recognized species of the genus Taibaiella. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Taibaiella koreensis sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-DT86(T) as the type strain ( = KACC 17171(T) = JCM 18823(T)).

Chryseobacterium camelliae sp. nov., isolated from green tea.

A Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and flexirubin-type-pigmented strain, THG C4-1(T), was isolated from green tea leaves in Jangheung-gun, Republic of Korea. Strain THG C4-1(T) grew well at 20-30 °C, at pH 7.0-7.5 and in the absence of NaCl on nutrient agar. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG C4-1(T) was most closely related to Chryseobacterium taiwanense Soil-3-27(T) (97.7 %), C. hagamense RHA2-9(T) (97.2 %), C. gregarium P 461/12(T) (97.2 %), C. ginsenosidimutans THG 15(T) (97.1 %), C. taeanense PHA3-4(T) (97.0 %) and C. daeguense K105(T) (97.0 %), but DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG C4-1(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbours was below 21 %. The DNA G+C content was 41.7 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG C4-1(T) was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The major component of the polyamine pattern was sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified aminolipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. These data supported the affiliation of strain THG C4-1(T) to the genus Chryseobacterium. The results of physiological and biochemical tests enabled strain THG C4-1(T) to be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from recognized species of the genus Chryseobacterium. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Chryseobacterium camelliae sp. nov. is proposed, with THG C4-1(T) ( = KACC 16985(T) = JCM 18745(T)) as the type strain.

Pedobacter seoulensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a bamboo field.

A Gram-stain negative, strictly aerobic, motile by gliding, rod-shaped and yellow pigmented strain THG-G12T was isolated from soil of a bamboo field in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Strain THG-G12T was observed to grow well at 20­28 °C and pH 7.0­7.5 in the absence of NaCl on nutrient agar. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-G12T was found to be most closely related to Pedobacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 104T (97.5 % sequence similarity), Pedobacter steynii WB2.3-45T (97.4 %), Pedobacter metabolipauper WB2.3-71T (97.2 %), Pedobacter nyackensis NWG-II14T (97.2 %), Pedobacter caeni LMG 22862T (97.1 %) and Pedobacter duraquae WB2.1-25T (97.0 %), but DNA relatedness between strain THG-G12T and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 9.5 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 39.9 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-G12T was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major component in the polyamine pattern was sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified phosphoglycolipids, unidentified aminophosphoglycolipids, unidentified aminolipids and unidentified lipids. Strain THG-G12T showed the presence of two ceramide phosphorylethanolamines (CerPE-2' and CerPE-2″), dihydrosphingosines and an unidentified ceramide as the major ceramide. The major fatty acids were identified as summed feature 3 (as defined by the MIDI system; C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c) and iso-C15:0. These data support the affiliation of strain THG-G12T to the genus Pedobacter. The results of physiological and biochemical tests enabled strain THG-G12T to be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from the recognized species of the genus Pedobacter. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Pedobacter seoulensis sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-G12T as the type strain (=KACC 17529T =JCM 19363T).

Sphingomonas kyeonggiense sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field.

A Gram-staining negative bacterium, THG-DT81(T), which was isolated from soil of a ginseng field, was investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were oxidase- and catalase-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile with one polar flagellum. Strain THG-DT81(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0 and in the absence of NaCl on trypticase soy agar. Its optimum growth temperature was 25-28 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain THG-DT81(T) belongs to the family Sphingomonadaceae and was related to Sphingomonas pituitosa EDIV(T) (98.0 % similarity), S. leidyi ATCC 15260(T) (97.8 %), S. trueperi LMG 2142(T) (97.1 %), S. azotifigens NBRC 15497(T) (97.1 %), S. koreensis JSS26 (T) (97.1 %) and S. dokdonensis DS-4(T) (97.0 %). Strain THG-DT81(T) contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18:1 ω7c and C16:0 as the major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 66.8 mol %. The major component in the polyamine pattern was identified as sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids detected in strain THG-DT81(T) were sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of the strain THG-DT81(T) and its closest phylogenetically neighbors were below 21 %. The phenotypic characteristics and genotypic data demonstrated the affiliation of strain THG-DT81(T) to the genus Sphingomonas. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic data presented, strain THG-DT81(T) is described as a novel species of genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas kyeonggiense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-DT81(T) (= KACC 17173(T) = JCM 18825(T)).

Pedobacter ginsenosidimutans sp. nov., with ginsenoside-converting activity.

A Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated THG-45(T), was isolated from soil of a ginseng field of Pocheon province in the Republic of Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Growth occurred at 4-30 °C, at pH 5.5-9.0 and with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl on nutrient agar. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG-45(T) was shown to belong to the genus Pedobacter and was related to Pedobacter borealis G-1(T) (98.8 %), P. alluvionis NWER-II11(T) (97.9 %), P. agri PB92(T) (97.9 %), P. terrae DS-57(T) (97.5 %), P. suwonensis 15-52(T) (97.4 %), P. sandarakinus DS-27(T) (97.0 %) and P. soli 15-51(T) (97.0 %), but DNA relatedness between strain THG-45(T) and these strains was below 36 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 39 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-45(T) was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminophosphoglycolipid. Phenotypic data and phylogenetic inference supported the affiliation of strain THG-45(T) to the genus Pedobacter, and a number of biochemical tests differentiated strain THG-45(T) from the recognized species of the genus Pedobacter. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Pedobacter ginsenosidimutans sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-45(T) as the type strain ( = KACC 14530(T) = JCM 16721(T)).

Sphingomonas kyungheensis sp. nov., a bacterium with ginsenoside-converting activity isolated from soil of a ginseng field.

A bacterial strain THG-B283(T), which has ß-glucosidase activity, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, aerobic, motile with one polar flagellum and rod-shaped. The strain was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain THG-B283(T) grew optimally at around pH 7.0, at 25-28 °C and in the absence of NaCl on R2A agar. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain THG-B283(T) belongs to the family Sphingomonadaceae and is closely related to Sphingomonas melonis DAPP-PG 224(T) (98.2 %), S. aquatilis JSS7(T) (98.1 %), S. insulae DS-28(T) (97.6 %), S. mali IFO 15500(T) (97.1 %) and S. pruni IFO 15498(T) (97.0 %). Strain THG-B283(T) contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone. The major fatty acids included summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C18 : 1ω7c, C14 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 72.2 mol%. The major component in the polyamine pattern was sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, unidentified aminolipids, an unidentified phospholipid and unidentified lipids. Genomic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain THG-B283(T) to the genus Sphingomonas. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-B283(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbours was below 23 %. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic data, strain THG-B283(T) represents a novel species of genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas kyungheensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-B283(T) ( = KACC 16224(T) = LMG 26582(T)).

Chryseobacterium gwangjuense sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, THG-A18(T), was isolated from soil of Gwangju province in South Korea. Strain THG-A18(T) grew optimally at 25-30 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the absence of NaCl. Strain THG-A18(T) displayed ß-glucosidase activity, which enabled it to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-A18(T) was shown to belong to the genus Chryseobacterium. The closest phylogenetic neighbours were Chryseobacterium ginsenosidimutans THG 15(T) (97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similariity), C. defluvii B2(T) (97.7 %), C. daeguense K105(T) (97.6 %), C. taiwanense BCRC 17412(T) (97.5 %), C. indoltheticum LMG 4025(T) (97.4 %), C. gregarium P 461/12(T) (97.4 %) and C. lathyri RBA2-6(T) (97.3 %), but DNA-DNA relatedness values between these strains and strain THG-A18(T) were below 41.9 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.4 mol%. The major respiratory quinone (MK-6) and fatty acids [iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16 : 0)] supported the affiliation of strain THG-A18(T) with the genus Chryseobacterium. The polar lipids of strain THG-A18(T) were phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminolipids and seven unidentified lipids. A number of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain THG-A18(T) from recognized species of the genus Chryseobacterium. The name Chryseobacterium gwangjuense sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-A18(T) ( = KACC 16227(T) = LMG 26579(T)) as the type strain.

Dyella kyungheensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a cornus fruit field.

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, motile by one polar flagellum, yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain THG-B117(T), was isolated from soil of a cornus fruit field of Hoengseong province in South Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic study. Strain THG-B117(T) grew well at 25-30 °C and at pH 6.0-8.0 in the absence of NaCl on nutrient agar. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG-B117(T) was shown to belong to the family Xanthomonadaceae and be related to Dyella japonica XD53(T) (98.7 % similarity), Dyella terrae JS14-6(T) (98.0 %), Dyella koreensis BB4(T) (96.9 %), Dyella soli JS12-10(T) (96.9 %) and Dyella thiooxydans ATSB10(T) (96.7 %). DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed that DNA relatedness between strain THG-B117(T) and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 45.1 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain THG-B117(T) was 64.8 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, unidentified aminolipids, unidentified aminophospholipids and unidentified phospholipids. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone was Q-8, and major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c) supported the affiliation of strain THG-B117(T) with the genus Dyella. The results of physiological and biochemical tests suggested that strain THG-B117(T) was different genotypically and phenotypically from recognized species of the genus Dyella, and represents a novel species of this genus. The name Dyella kyungheensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain THG-B117(T) ( = KACC 16981(T) = JCM 18747(T)).

Flavobacterium kyungheensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field.

A Gram-staining negative, strictly aerobic, motile by gliding, non-spore-forming, pale yellow pigmented and rod-shaped bacterium designated strain THG-107(T) was isolated from soil of a ginseng field on Ganghwa Island in the Republic of Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. Growth of strain THG-107(T) was found to occur at 4-37 °C (optimum, 20-30 °C), at pH 5.5-10 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, absence) on R2A agar. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG-107(T) was shown to belong to the family Flavobacteriaceae and was related to Flavobacterium denitrificans ED5(T) (99.1 % similarity). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 34.2 mol%. These results are consistent with characteristics of members of the genus Flavobacterium. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-107(T) was menaquinone-6 (MK-6) and the major polyamine was identified as homospermidine (82.9 %). The major polar lipid detected was phosphatidylethanolamine and the major cellular fatty acids were identified as iso-C15:0 (26.3 %), iso-C17:0 3OH (12.6 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c; 11.6 %). Flexirubin-type pigments were found to be present. Strain THG-107(T) has ß-glucosidase activity to convert ginsenosides Rb1 and Rd into Gyp17 and F2. DNA-DNA hybridization with F. denitrificans ED5(T) was 52 %. Strain THG-107(T) could be distinguished from F. denitrificans ED5(T) and the other species of the genus Flavobacterium by its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and by several phenotypic properties. Therefore, strain THG-107(T) is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium kyungheensis sp. nov. is proposed (type strain THG-107(T) = KACC 16219(T) = LMG 26575(T)).

Sphingobacterium ginsenosidimutans sp. nov., a bacterium with ginsenoside-converting activity isolated from the soil of a ginseng field.

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, and rod-shaped bacterium designated THG 07(T) was isolated from the soil of a ginseng field of Pocheon in South Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. Strain THG 07(T) grew optimally at 25-30°C and at pH 6.5-7.0 and in the absence of NaCl on nutrient agar. Strain THG-T17(T) displayed ß-glucosidase activity that was responsible for its ability to transform ginsenoside Rb1 (one of the dominant ginsenosides of ginseng) to compound C-K. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG 07(T) was shown to belong to the family Sphingobacteriaceae and was related to Sphingobacterium canadense CR11(T) (98.7%), S. cladoniae No.6(T) (98.1%), S. detergens 6.2S(T) (98.0%), S. multivorum IAM14316(T) (97.9%), S. siyangense SY1(T) (97.8%) and S. thalpophilum DSM11723(T) (96.9%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 40.6 mol%. The major menaquinone, MK-7, and major fatty acids, iso-C15:0 and C16:1 ω7c and/or ω6c, supported the affiliation of strain THG 07(T) to the genus Sphingobacterium. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG 07(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbors were below 26.9%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests enabled strain THG 07(T) to be differentiated phenotypically from the recognized species of the genus Sphingobacterium. Therefore the isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Sphingobacterium ginsenosidimutans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain THG 07(T) (=KACC 14526(T)=JCM 16722(T)).