Roseateles caseinilyticus sp. nov. and Roseateles cellulosilyticus sp. nov., isolated from rice paddy field soil.

Two novel Gram-stain-negative strains designated P7T and P8T, were isolated from the soil of a paddy field in Goyang, Republic of Korea, and identified as new species within the genus Roseateles through a polyphasic taxonomic approach. These aerobic, rod-shaped, non-sporulating strains demonstrated optimal growth at 30 °C, pH 7, and in the absence of NaCl (0% w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated close relationships with Roseateles saccharophilus DSM654T (98.7%) and Roseateles puraquae CCUG 52769T (98.96%), respectively. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the isolates with the most closely related strains with publicly available whole genomes were 82.0-85.5% and 25.0-30.2%, respectively. The predominant fatty acids identified were C16:0 and summed feature 3 (composed of C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c), with minor amounts of C12:0, C10:0 3-OH and summed feature 8 (composed of C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c; 26.4%). Ubiquinone 8 was the main quinone, and the polar lipid profile included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phosphoaminolipids, one unidentified phosphoglycolipid, three unidentified phospholipids, and one unidentified aminolipid. The draft genome sequences revealed genomic DNA G + C contents of 70.1% for P7T and 68.2% for P8T. Comprehensive physiological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA sequence analyses confirm these isolates as novel species of the genus Roseateles, proposed to be named Roseateles caseinilyticus sp. nov for strain P7T (= KACC 22504T = TBRC 15694T) and Roseateles cellulosilyticus sp. nov. for strain P8T (= KACC 22505T = TBRC 15695T).

Streptomyces tagetis sp. nov., a chromomycin producing bacteria isolated from the roots of Tagetes patula.

A novel halotolerant actinobacterium, designated as RG38T, capable of producing black extracellular melanin pigment on SP2 agar, was isolated from the roots of Tagetes patula. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed the highest similarity to Streptomyces collinus NBRC 12759T (99.3%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain RG38T clustered within the genus Streptomyces forming a monophyletic cluster with its close relatives. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), and amino-acid identity (AAI) values between strain RG38T and related species within the genus Streptomyces were below the standard threshold for prokaryotic species delineation. The DNA G + C content of the strain RG38T was determined to be 73.3%. The genome size measured 7,150,598 bp comprising 17 contigs and encompassed 6,053 protein coding genes. AntiSMASH analysis of the whole genome revealed 35 putative biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for various secondary metabolites. Among these clusters, two gene clusters exhibited 100% similarity to the chromomycin A3, albaflavenone, and anthracimycin, respectively. These compounds were reported to possess significant anticancer and antibacterial activities. LC-MS-based analysis, coupled with further isolation studies, confirmed the production of chromomycins A2 (1), A3 (2), and their derivatives, along with their antibiotic activities. These findings underscore the potential of this novel strain as a novel resource for the discovery of diverse antimicrobial compounds. This study is the first to report an antimicrobial compound producing Streptomyces species isolated from medicinal plant T. patula. Based on a polyphasic study, the strain RG38T isolated from an unexplored habitat with a high potential for new natural products represents a novel species within the genus Streptomyces. Accordingly, we propose the name Streptomyces tagetis sp. nov. for this novel species, with the type strain is RG38T (=KCTC 49624T = TBRC 15113T).

Mesorhizobium liriopis sp. nov., isolated from the fermented fruit of Liriope platyphylla a medicinal plant.

A facultative anaerobic and Gram-negative strain, designated RP14T, was isolated from the fruit of Liriope platyphylla fermented for 60 days at 25°C. Strain RP14T showed 98.0 % 16S rRNA similarity to Mesorhizobium huakuii IFO 15243T, but in the phylogenetic tree, Mesorhizobium terrae NIBRBAC000500504T was its closest neighbour. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain RP14T and 15 genomes of type strains of Mesorhizobium, were 73.8-74.4% and 16.4-20.2 %, respectively, which were lower than the recommended thresholds for species delineation. The strain grew at 25-32°C (optimum, 28°C), at pH 7.0-12.0 (optimum, pH 9.0) and with 0-2% NaCl (optimum, 0 %; w/v). Cells of strain RP14T were catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, rod-shaped and formed yellow-coloured colonies. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acid were C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The DNA G+C content was 62.8 mol%. Based on polyphasic evidence, we propose Mesorhizobium liriopis sp. nov as a novel species within the genus Mesorhizobium. The type strain is RP14T (=KACC 22720T=TBRC 16341T).

Planobacterium oryzisoli sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from roots of rice plant.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming bacterium, designated strain GCR5T, was isolated from soil of paddy field. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GCR5T belongs to the genus Planobacterium and is related to Planobacterium taklimakanense NCTC 13490 T (96.1%, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Colonies on R2A were white but they turn into bright yellow after exponential growth. They produce carotenoid pigment after 5-6 days of incubation, before that carotenoid pigment was not found. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6, and major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0 3OH. Polar lipids include phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phosphoglycolipids, three unidentified glycolipids, one unidentified aminophosphoglycolipid and five unidentified polar lipids. The strain GCR5T was found to have a 2,106,200 bp linear genome with G + C content of 43.7%. The ANI, dDDH and AAI values between the strain GCR5T and the type strains of phylogenetically related species were 60.2-71.1%, 19-24.3%, and 60.2-69.6%, respectively. The strain designated GCR5T produced indole acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of tryptophan only, and auxin responsive genes and tryptophan biosynthesis genes were found in its genome. Based on its polyphasic characteristics, strain GCR5T represents a novel species within the genus Planobacterium, for which the name Planobacterium oryzisoli sp. nov. was proposed. The type strain is GCR5T (= KCTC 82713 T = TISTR 2996 T = TBRC 15746 T).Repositories: The draft genome and 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain GCR5T have been deposited at GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ under accession numbers JADKYY000000000 and MN955408, respectively.

Pseudarthrobacter humi sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain designated RMG13T was isolated from the soil near Gaetgol Eco Park and collected in Siheung-si, Republic of Korea. It was taxonomically characterized through polyphasic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the novel isolate was most closely related to the type strains of species of the genus Pseudarthrobacter. RMG13T shared the highest similarities with Pseudarthrobacter sulfonivorans ALLT (99.2 %) and Pseudarthrobacter psychrotolerans YJ56T (99.0 %). In silico DNA-DNA hybridization values of RMG13T with P. sulfonivorans ALLT and P. psychrotolerans YJ56T were 28.1 and 41.8 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identities of RMG13T with P. sulfonivorans ALLT and P. psychrotolerans YJ56T were 84.2 and 70.3 %, respectively, whilst the average amino acid identities of RMG13T with P. sulfonivorans ALLT and P. psychrotolerans YJ56T were 90.5 and 74.6 %, respectively. Two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography showed that the major polar lipids of RMG13T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol, and its major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. MK-9 (H2) was the sole menaquinone. Cells grew at 4-37 °C (optimum 30 °C) and pH 5.0-12.0 (optimum pH 8.0) in Reasoner's 2A (MB cell). The cells tolerated 0-5% NaCl (w/v) but not 6 % NaCl. The DNA G+C content of RMG13T was 65.0 %. The results of phenotypic, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses indicated that RMG13T represents a novel member of the genus Pseudarthrobacter, and the proposed name is P. humi sp. nov. The type strain of P. humi is RMG13T (= KACC 22359T = TBRC 15115T).

Devosia oryzisoli sp. nov., a novel moderately halotolerant bacterium isolated from the roots of rice plants and genome mining revealed the biosynthesis potential as plant growth promoter.

A Gram-stain-negative, halotolerant bacterium designated as PTR5T was isolated from the roots of rice plants, collected in Ilsan, South Korea. Cells were, aerobic, asporogenous, motile, rod-shaped, white in color, and grew at 5-38 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 5.0-0-8.0 (optimum, 7.0) and tolerates up to 10% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0% NaCl). According to the EZbioCloud server the most closely related Devosia species to strain PTR5T based on 16 S rRNA gene sequence comparison are Devosia crocina (97.4%), followed by D. soli (97.2%), D. lucknowensis (96.9%) and D. marina (96.5%). The respiratory quinone was identified as Q-10. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. C16:0, C18:1 ω7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c) constituted the main cellular fatty acids. The draft genome sequence of strain PTR5T was 3,689,283 bp in size. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and amino acid identity (AAI) values between strain PTR5T and its close relative were 72.8-76.8%, 19-20.7% and 70.3-75%, respectively. The G + C content was 63.7%. Strain PTR5T was able to produce siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of L-tryptophan. Genes for siderophore production, auxin responsive and tryptophan biosynthesis were present in the genome of novel strain. Also, gene clusters involved in detoxification of various metal pollutants and antibiotics were also revealed in the genome of novel strain PTR5T, this suggest that novel strain can facilitate bioremediation of heavy metals and antibiotics in contaminated areas. This study aimed to determine the detailed taxonomic position of the strain PTR5T using the modern polyphasic approach. On the basis of evidence presented in this study, strain PTR5T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia oryzisoli sp. nov. (type strain PTR5T (KCTC 82691T = TBRC 15163T) is proposed.

Comparative genomic analyses of four novel Ramlibacter species and the cellulose-degrading properties of Ramlibacter cellulosilyticus sp. nov.

In this study, four novel bacterial strains, USB13T, AW1T, GTP1T, and HM2T, were isolated from various environments in Busan and Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that the four novel strains belong to the genus Ramlibacter. All four strains were tested for their potential cellulolytic properties, where strain USB13T was identified as the only novel bacterium and the first within its genus to show cellulolytic activity. When tested, the highest activities of endoglucanase, exoglucanase, ß-glucosidase, and filter paper cellulase (FPCase) were 1.91 IU/mL, 1.77 IU/mL, 0.76 IU/mL, and 1.12 IU/mL, respectively at pH 6.0. Comparisons of draft whole genome sequences (WGS) were also made using average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization values, and average amino acid identity values, while whole genome comparison was visualized using the BLAST Ring Image Generator. The G + C contents of the strains ranged from 67.9 to 69.9%, while genome sizes ranged from 4.31 to 6.15 Mbp. Based on polyphasic evidence, the novel strains represent four new species within the genus Ramlibacter, for which the names Ramlibacter cellulosilyticus sp. nov. (type strain, USB13T = KACC 21656T = NBRC 114839T) Ramlibacter aurantiacus sp. nov. (type strain, AW1T = KACC 21544T = NBRC 114862T), Ramlibacter albus sp. nov. (type strain, GTP1T = KACC 21702T = NBRC 114488T), and Ramlibacter pallidus sp. nov. (type strain, HM2T = KCTC 82557T = NBRC 114489T) are proposed.

Chryseolinea lacunae sp. nov. and Piscinibacter lacus sp. nov. Isolated from Artificial Pond Water.

Two Gram stain-negative bacterial strains designated Jin1T and Jin2T were isolated from artificial pond water in the Republic of Korea and investigated in the present study using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these two strains belonged to the genera Chryseolinea and Piscinibacter due to their highest similarities with the 16S rRNA gene sequences of Chryseolinea serpens RYGT (98.7%) and Piscinibacter aquaticus IMCC1728T (97.1%), respectively. The dDDH and ANI values were 18.1-20.5% and 68.9-76.8% between whole-genome sequences of strain Jin1T and type trains of the selected taxa, Chryseolinea species, and 20.1-20.2% and 75.5-76.1% between those of strain Jin2T and the type strains of the selected taxa, Piscinibacter species, respectively. A threshold AAI value of 44.7-64.8% for the species boundary (95-96%) was established for strains Jin1T, Jin2T, and type strains of other species involved in the system incidence, which confirms that strains Jin1T and Jin2T represent two new species of the genera Chryseolinea and Piscinibacter, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic analyses, strains Jin1T and Jin2T represent novel species of the genera Chryseolinea and Piscinibacter, respectively, for which the names Chryseolinea lacunae sp. nov. (type strain Jin1T = KCTC 82562T = NBRC 114837T) and Piscinibacter lacus sp. nov. (type strain Jin2T = KCTC 82556T = NBRC 114838T) have been proposed.

Quadrisphaera setariae sp. nov., polyphosphate-accumulating bacterium occurring as tetrad or aggregate cocci and isolated from Setaria viridis.

A Gram-stain-positive, orange-pigmented, aerobic, cocci (occurring in tetrads), non-spore-forming, non-motile bacterium, designated as DD2AT, was isolated from Setaria viridis collected at Dongguk University, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that strain DD2AT was most closely related to type strains of the genus Quadrisphaera. Strain DD2AT showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Quadrisphaera oryzae TBRC 8486T (99.4 %) and Quadrisphaera granulorum JCM 16010T (98.8 %). Strain DD2AT also showed auto-aggregation ability. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain DD2AT and the reference strains, Q. oryzae TBRC 8486T and Q. granulorum JCM 16010T were 31.1 and 27.4 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity values between strain DD2AT and Q. oryzae TBRC 8486T and Q. granulorum JCM 16010T were 86.3 and 84.1 %, respectively. The major polar lipids of strain DD2AT were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acid of strain DD2AT was anteiso-C15 : 0. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid (which is a diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid), alanine and glutamic acid. The respiratory quinones was found to be menaquinone-8. The DNA G+C content of strain DD2AT was 74.8 mol%. On the basis of the findings of genotypic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain DD2AT was considered to represent a novel member in the genus Quadrisphaera, for which the name Quadrisphaera setariae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Quadrisphaera setariae is DD2AT (=KACC 21165T=NBRC 113770T).

Devosia rhizoryzae sp. nov., and Devosia oryziradicis sp. nov., novel plant growth promoting members of the genus Devosia, isolated from the rhizosphere of rice plants.

Two novel Gram-negative, aerobic, asporogenous, motile, rod-shaped, orange and white pigmented, designated as LEGU1T and G19T, were isolated from the roots of rice plants, collected from Goyang, South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they belonged to the genus Devosia and formed a different lineage and clusters with different members of the genus Devosia. These strains shared common chemotaxonomic features. In particular, they had Q-10 as the sole quinone, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol as the principal polar lipids and C16:0, C18:1ω7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c) as the main fatty acids. The draft genome sequences of strains LEGU1T and G19T were 3,524,978 and 3,495,520 bp in size, respectively. Their average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 72.8-81.9% and 18.7-25.1%, respectively, with each other and type strains of related species belonging to the genus Devosia, suggesting that these two strains represent novel species. The G + C content of strains LEGU1T and G19T were 62.1 and 63.8%, respectively. Of the two strains, only LEGU1T produced carotenoid and flexirubin-type pigment. Both strains produced siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of L-tryptophan. Siderophore biosynthesis genes, auxin responsive genes and tryptophan biosynthesis genes were present in their genomes. The present study aimed to determine the detailed taxonomic positions of the strains using the modern polyphasic approach. Based on the results of polyphasic analysis, these strains are suggested to be two novel bacterial species within the genus Devosia. The proposed names are D. rhizoryzae sp. nov., and Devosia oryziradicis sp. nov., respectively. The plant growth promoting effects of these strains suggest that they can be exploited to improve rice crop productivity. The type strain of D. rhizoryzae is LEGU1T (KCTC 82712T = NBRC 114485T) and D. oryziradicis is G19T (KCTC 82688T = NBRC 114842T).

Paenibacillus agilis sp. nov., Paenibacillus cremeus sp. nov. and Paenibacillus terricola sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soils.

Members of the genus Paenibacillus are well known for their metabolic versatility and great application potential in plant growth promotion. Three novel bacterial strains, designated N4T, JC52T and PR3T, were isolated from rhizosphere soils and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic and phylogenomic analysis revealed that the three strains belonged to the genus Paenibacillus and formed three independent branches distinct from all reference strains. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses between the three strains and their relatives further demonstrated that the three strains represented different novel genospecies. Strain N4T exhibited the highest similarity, ANI and digital DDH values with Paenibacillus assamensis DSM 18201T (99.0/87.5/33.9 %) and Paenibacillus insulae DS80T (97.2/-/18.2±1.2 %). Values for JC52T with Paenibacillus validus NBRC 15382T were 96.9, 73.3 and 19.6 %, and with Paenibacillus rigui JCM 16352T were 96.1, 72.1 and 19.3 %. Values for PR3T with Paenibacillus ginsengiterrae DCY89T were 98.2, - and 31.8±1.5 %, with Paenibacillus cellulosilyticus ASM318225v1T were 97.8, 83.3 and 26.7 %, and with Paenibacillus kobensis NBRC 15729T were 97.6, 75.7 and 20.4 %. Cells of the three novel bacterial strains were Gram-positive, spore-forming, motile and rod-shaped. The novel species contained anteiso-C15 : 0 and MK-7 as the predominant fatty acid and menaquinone, respectively. The novel strains have numerous similar known clusters of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, siderophores, lanthipeptide, lassopeptide-like bacillibactin, paeninodin and polyketide-like chejuenolide A/B lankacidin C. Based on the distinct morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic differences from their closest phylogenetic neighbours, we propose that strains N4T, JC52T and PR3T represent novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, with the names Paenibacillus agilis sp. nov. (=KACC 19717T=JCM 32775T), Paenibacillus cremeus sp. nov. (=KACC 21221T=NBRC 113867T) and Paenibacillus terricola sp. nov. (=KACC 21455T=NBRC 114385T), respectively.

Nocardioides donggukensis sp. nov. and Hyunsoonleella aquatilis sp. nov., isolated from Jeongbang Waterfall on Jeju Island.

Two bacterial strains, designated MJB4T and SJ7T, were isolated from water samples collected from Jeongbang Falls on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains belonged to the genera Nocardioides and Hyunsoonleella, owing to their high similarities to Nocardioides jensenii DSM 29641T (97.5 %) and Hyunsoonleella rubra FA042 T (96.3 %), respectively. These values are much lower than the gold standard for bacterial species (98.7 %). The average nucleotide identity values between strains MJB4T, SJ7T and the reference strains, Nocardioides jensenii DSM 29641T, Nocardioides daejeonensis MJ31T and Hyunsoonleella flava T58T were 77.2, 75.9 and 75.4 %, respectively. Strains MJB4T and SJ7T and the type strains of the species involved in system incidence have average nucleotide identity and average amino acid threshold values of 60.1-82.6 % for the species boundary (95-96 %), which confirms that strains MJB4T and SJ7T represent two new species of genus Nocardioides and Hyunsoonleella, respectively. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic data, strains MJB4T and SJ7T are considered to represent novel species of the genus Nocardioides and Hyunsoonleella, respectively, for which the names Nocardioides donggukensis sp. nov. (type strain MJB4T=KACC 21724T=NBRC 114402T) and Hyunsoonleella aquatilis sp. nov., (type strain SJ7T=KACC 21715T=NBRC 114486T) have been proposed.

Pontibacter aquaedesilientis sp. nov., isolated from Jeongbang Waterfall, Jeju Island.

A red-pigmented, aerobic, motile by gliding, pleomorphic to long-rods and divided by budding bacterium, Gram-stain negative bacterium, designated JH31T, was isolated from stream water of Jeongbang Waterfall, famous feature of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The cells grew at 9-40 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), at pH 5.0-10.0 (pH 6.5-7.5) and with 0-6% NaCl (0% NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain JH31T forms a lineage within the family Hymenobacteriaceae and clusters with its closest related species Pontibacter virorsus KCTC 42941T (98.1%), Pontibacter salisaro KACC 16885T (98.0%), Pontibacter amylolyticus JCM 19653T (97.2%), Pontibacter ramchanderi KACC 17384T (97.2%) and Pontibacter lucknowensis DM9T (96.4%). Strain JH31T produced carotenoid-type pigments but no flexirubin-type pigments. The genome was 4117105 bp long with 18 contigs and 3509 protein-coding genes. The DNA G+C content was 49.7 mol%. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between the genome sequence of strain JH31T and its closely related reference strains were less than 19 and 72%, respectively. The draft genome of strain JH31T contained vital gene clusters involved in resistance against various metals, antibiotics, toxic compounds and radiation. The respiratory quinone of strain JH31T was menaquinone 7 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, and summed feature 4 (comprising iso-C17:1 I and/or anteiso B). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified glycolipids, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified phosphoglycolipid and one unidentified aminoglycolipid. The phylogenetic, physiochemical and biochemical data showed that strain JH31T should represent a novel species in the genus Pontibacter, for which the name Pontibacter aquaedesilientis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain for this novel species is JH31T (KACC 21705T=NBRC 114480T).

Fuscibacter oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov., a phosphate-solubilizing bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of rice plant.

An ovoid to rod shaped, white to brown pigmented, facultative anaerobic, mesophilic, non-phototrophic, Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, multiply by binary fission designated strain KVB23T, which was isolated from root of rice plant, near Ilsan, South Korea, was investigated for its taxonomic position by polyphasic approach. Optimal growth was found to occur at 30˚C, at pH 6.5 and in the absence of NaCl on R2A. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain KVB23T revealed that it formed a distinct lineage, as a separate deep branch within the family Rhodobacteriaceae, with < 96.5% sequence similarity to representatives of the genera Rhodobacter, Xinfangfangia, Tabrizicola, Falsirhodobacter, Haematobacter, Paenirhodobacter, Pseudorhodobacter and Pararhodobacter. Based in 16S rRNA sequences strain KVB23T was most closely related to Tabrizicola fusiformis KCTC 62105 T (96.5%) and Rhodobacter thermarum KCTC 52712 T (96.2%). The draft genome of strain KVB23T was 3.80 bp long with a DNA G + C content of 63.1%. Genome of strain KVB23T harboured gene clusters for tryptophan and cobalamin biosynthesis. The strain contained Q-10 as the sole respiratory quinone. The predominant fatty acids were found to consist of C16:0, C18:0 and summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1 ω7c and / or C18:1 ω6). The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, seven unidentified phosphoglycolipids, two unidentified aminophosphoglycolipid, one unidentified glycolipid and four unidentified lipids. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria have the ability to dissolve insoluble phosphates and enhance the soil fertility. Strain KVB23T can solubilize calcium phosphate tribasic. Phosphate solubilizing and tryptophan biosynthesis property of strain KVB23T could be a possible factor for the increase in growth of rice plant. Differential phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain KVB23T was found to represent a novel genus in the Rhodobacteriaceae family, for which the name Fuscibacter oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain KVB23T(= KACC 21711 T = NBRC 114716 T).

Sphingomonas sabuli sp. nov., a carotenoid-producing bacterium isolated from beach sand.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and non-motile bacterium, strain sand1-3T, was isolated from beach sand collected from Haeundae Beach located in Busan, Republic of Korea. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses, Sphingomonas daechungensis CH15-11T (97.0 %), Sphingomonas edaphi DAC4T (96.8 %), Sphingomonas xanthus AE3T (96.5 %) and Sphingomonas oryziterrae YC6722T (96.0 %) were selected for comparing phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics. Cells of strain sand1-3T grew at 7-50 °C (optimum, 30-35 °C), pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0) and in the presence of 0-0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Major polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, one unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified phosphoglycolipid. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω6c and/or C18 : 1 ω7c) and C18 : 1 2-OH. Moreover, the sole respiratory quinone and major polyamine were identified as ubiquinone-10 and homospermidine, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content was 65.9 mol%. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization, average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity values of strain sand1-3T and its reference strains with publicly available genomes were 17.9-18.9 %, 72.0-75.3 % and 63.3-76.5 % respectively. Based on polyphasic evidence, we propose Sphingomonas sabuli sp. nov. as a novel species within the genus Sphingomonas. The type strain is sand1-3T (=KCTC 82358T=NBRC 114538T).

Cohnella terricola sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, flagellated, endospore-forming, rod-shaped strain, designated as G13T, was isolated from soil. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis led to the conclusion that strain G13T was phylogenetically related to Cohnella boryungensis BR29T (97.5 %) and Cohnella phaseoli CECT 7287T (96.9 %) with digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of 21.0 and 21.4 %, and distantly related to Cohnella thermotolerans CCUG 47242T (94.8 %), type species of the genus Cohnella, at 19.0 %. The genome size of strain G13T was 5 387 258 bp, with 51.3 mol% G+C content. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The predominant quinone was menaquinone-7 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidyglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, lysylphosphatidylglycerol, three aminophospholipids, two phosphoglycolipids, three aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. Based on the data from phenotypic tests and the genotypic differences between strain G13T and its close phylogenetic relatives, strain G13T represents a new species belonging to the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella terricola sp. nov. (=KACC 19905T=NBRC 113748T) is proposed.

Methylobacterium terricola sp. nov., a gamma radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil.

A gamma radiation-resistant and pink-pigmented bacterial strain, designated as 17Sr1-39T, was isolated from a gamma ray-irradiated soil sample collected in the Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, flagellated, asporogenous, rod-shaped and methylotrophic. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 17Sr1-39T was phylogenetically related to Methylobacterium currus PR1016AT (97.3 %), Methylobacterium aquaticum DSM 16371T (97.2 %), Methylobacterium platani PMB02T (97.0 %), Methylobacterium frigidaeris IER25-16T (96.6 %), Methylobacterium terrae 17Sr1-28T (96.6 %) and Methylobacterium organophilum JCM 2833T (93.4 %). The G+C content calculated based on the genome sequence was 70.4 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain 17Sr1-39T and M. currus, M. aquaticum, M. platani, M. frigidaeris, M. terrae and M. organophilum were 77.3-89.9 and 22-38.2 %, respectively. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The predominant quinone was ubiquinone 10 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on the data from phenotypic tests and genotypic differences between strain 17Sr1-39T and its close phylogenetic relatives, strain 17Sr1-39T represented a new species belonging to the genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium terricola sp. nov. (=KACC 52905T=NBRC 112874T) is proposed.

Erratum to: Methylobacterium terrae sp. nov., a radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil.

In the article by Kim et al. published in Journal of Microbiology 2019; 57, 959-966, The NBRC accession number NBRC 112879T on 33th line of 2nd paragraph in the section of 'Description of Methylobacterium terrae sp. nov.' on page 964 should be corrected in NBRC 112873T.The sentence in abstract should have read: The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences of the type strain 17Sr1-28T (= KCTC 52904T = NBRC 112873T) are KY939566 and CP029553, respectively.We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

Methylobacterium durans sp. nov., a radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil.

A gamma radiation-resistant, Gram-stain negative, oxidase and catalase positive, aerobic, flagellated, rod-shaped, methylotrophic and pink-pigmented bacterial strain designated 17SD2-17 T was isolated from gamma-ray-irradiated soil collected in Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 17SD2-17 T is phylogenetically related to Methylobacterium organophilum DSM 760 T (97.6%), Methylobacterium oxalidis 35aT (97.4%) and Methylobacterium soli YIM 48816 T (97.0%). The G+C content calculated based on the draft genome sequence is 68.7 mol%. The DNA-DNA hybridisation between 17SD2-17 T and its close relatives was found to be less than 40%. The predominant fatty acid was identified as summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c) and the major respiratory quinone as Q-10. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. On the basis of the data from phenotypic tests and genotypic differences between strain 17SD2-17 T and its close phylogenetic relatives, strain 17SD2-17 T is concluded to represent a new species belonging to the genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium durans sp. nov. (= KCTC 52908 T = NBRC 112876 T) is proposed.

Sphingomonas edaphi sp. nov., a novel species isolated from beach soil in the Republic of Korea.

A yellow-coloured, Gram-negative, motile, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated strain DAC4T, was isolated from a soil sample collected at Ahnmok Beach (Busan, Republic of Korea). The cells of strain DAC4T were rod-shaped and the colonies that formed were round and convex. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain DAC4T revealed that the bacterium belongs to the genus Sphingomonas, family Sphingomonadaceae, and that it was most closely related to Sphingomonas jaspsi DSM 18422T (98.01 %), Sphingomonas rhizophila KACC 19189T (97.76 %), Sphingomonas mesophila KCTC 62179T(97.30 %), Sphingomonas sedimincola KCTC 12629T (97.16 %) and Sphingomonas oryziterrae KCTC 22476T (97.05 %). The major respiratory quinone was Q-10, and the major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18  :  1ω7c) and summed feature 3 (C16  :  1ω7c/C16  :  1ω6c). The whole genome DNA G+C content of strain DAC4T was 62.16 mol%. Phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipids, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, four undefined glycolipids and an undefined lipid were detected in strain DAC4T, and the strain had sym-homospermidine as a major polyamine. The in silico DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain DAC4T and the closely related taxa S. jaspsi and S. mesophila were 75.5/23.5 % and 73.5 /18.5%, respectively. The fluorimetric DNA-DNA hybridization results showed that strain DAC4T and S. rhizophila, S. sediminicola and S. oryziterrae have 37.1, 35.2 and 32.2 % DNA similarity, respectively. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic distinctiveness, strain DAC4T (=KCTC 62107T=JCM 32377T) is classified as a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas edaphi sp. nov. is proposed.