Gordonia prachuapensis sp. nov. and Gordonia sesuvii sp. nov., two novel actinobacteria isolated from mangrove sediments and leaves of halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum in Thailand.

A polyphasic approach was used to characterize two novel actinobacterial strains, designated PKS22-38T and LSe1-13T, which were isolated from mangrove soils and leaves of halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.), respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that they belonged to the genus Gordonia and were most closely related to three validly published species with similarities ranging from 98.6 to 98.1 %. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains PKS22-38T and LSe1-13T were 67.3 and 67.2 mol%, respectively. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the two strains were 93.3 and 54.9 %, respectively, revealing that they are independent species. Meanwhile, the ANI and dDDH values between the two novel strains and closely related type strains were below 80.5 and 24.0 %, respectively. Strains PKS22-38T and LSe1-13T contained C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω9c and C18 : 0 10-methyl (TBSA) as the major fatty acids and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol as the main phospholipids. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H2). Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genomic data, strains PKS22-38T and LSe1-13T are considered to represent two novel species within the genus Gordonia, for which the names Gordonia prachuapensis sp. nov. and Gordonia sesuvii sp. nov. are proposed, with strain PKS22-38T (=TBRC 17540T=NBRC 116256T) and strain LSe1-13T (=TBRC 17706T=NBRC 116396T) as the type strains, respectively.

Streptomyces acidicola sp. nov., isolated from a peat swamp forest in Thailand.

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain K1PN6T, was isolated from soil sample collected in Kantulee peat swamp forest, Surat Thani province, Thailand. The morphological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic characteristics were consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain K1PN6T showed highest similarity to Streptomyces phyllanthi PA1-07T (98.6 %), Streptomyces spongiae Sp080513SC-24T (98.3%) and Streptomyces adustus WH-9T (98.3%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 70.3 mol%. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between the genome sequence of strain K1PN6T with S. phyllanthi TISTR 2346T (33.7 and 89.1%), S. spongiae NBRC 106415T (38.6 and 90.6%) and S. adustus NBRC 109810T (26.0 and 86.2%) were below the thresholds of 70 and 95-96% for prokaryotic conspecific assignation. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain K1PN6T possessed MK-9(H8) (45%) and MK-9(H6) (34%) as the predominant menaquinones. It contained LL-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and galactose, glucose, mannose, and ribose as whole-cell sugars. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, two unidentified aminolipids, an unidentified phospholipid, and glycophospholipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>10%) were iso-C16:0, C16:0, anteiso-C15:0, and iso-C14:0. On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic data, strain K1PN6T should be designated as a representative of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces acidicola sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain K1PN6T (=TBRC 11341T=NBRC 114304T).

Amycolatopsis pithecelloba sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from roots of Pithecellobium dulce in Thailand.

An actinomycete strain RM579T isolated from roots of Pithecellobium dulce in Thailand was studied using the polyphasic taxonomic approach. The results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that strain RM579T belonged to the family Pseudonocardiaceae and it was most closely related to members of the genera Amycolatopsis (≤94.5% sequence similarity) and Haloechinothrix (≤93.4% sequence similarity). A phylogenetic tree constructed by neighbor-joining method indicated that strain RM579T was positioned within the clade of the genus Amycolatopsis and formed a monophyletic cluster with Amycolatopsis taiwanensis 0345M-7T, Amycolatopsis pigmentata TT00-43T and Amycolatopsis helveola TT99-32T. Strain RM579T formed white aerial mycelium and yellowish-brown substrate mycelium that fragments into rod-shaped elements. Morphological features and chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain RM579T were consistent with those of the genus Amycolatopsis. The cell wall of strain RM579T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. Arabinose, galactose, mannose, and ribose were detected as whole-cell sugars. Mycolic acids were absent. The acyl type of the muramic acid in the cell wall was N-acetyl. Diphosphatidylglycerol, hydroxyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and an unidentified phospholipid were detected as polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids (>10%) were iso-C16:0, iso-C16:0 2-OH, and C16:1 cis9. The resultant data indicated that strain RM579T should be classified as representative of a novel species in the genus Amycolatopsis, for which the name Amycolatopsis pithecelloba sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RM579T (=TBRC 1849T =NBRC 106096T).

Cryptosporangium eucalypti sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from Eucalyptus camaldulensis roots.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain EURKPP3H10T, was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., collected from Kamphaengphet Silvicultural Research Station, Kamphaengphet province, Thailand. The taxonomic position of strain EURKPP3H10T was studied using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic evaluation based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain EURKPP3H10T belongs to the genus Cryptosporangium, with the highest sequence similarity to Cryptosporangium cibodasense LIPI11-2-Ac046T (99.2 %). Colonies of strain EURKPP3H10T were orange yellow. Spherical sporangia with motile spores were observed. The strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and acofriose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and ribose in whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H6). The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c, C18 : 1ω9c and C17 : 0. The polar lipids of the strain were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.5 mol%. Based on comparative analysis of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data, including DNA-DNA hybridization, strain EURKPP3H10T represents a novel species of the genus Cryptosporangium, for which the name Cryptosporangium eucalypti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EURKPP3H10T (=BCC 77605T=NBRC 111482T).

Three novel species of the genus Kibdelosporangium; Kibdelosporangium kanagawaense sp. nov., Kibdelosporangiumrhizosphaerae sp. nov. and Kibdelosporangium rhizovicinum sp. nov.

The taxonomic positions of three actinomycete isolates, K08-0175T, K10-0543T and K12-0791T, which were isolated from plant root and rhizospheric soil samples were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. On the basis of the results of phylogenetic analysis and morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, these three strains were classified as representing members of the genus Kibdelosporangium. These strains were observed to produce both long chains of rod-shaped spores and sporangium-like structures with well-defined walls on aerial hyphae. Phylogenetic position, DNA-DNA hybridization and comparison of the phylogenetically closest relatives revealed that these three strains were clearly distinguishable from each other and from their closest phylogenetic relatives. Therefore, three novel species are proposed as Kibdelosporangium kanagawaense sp. nov. [type strain K08-0175T (=NBRC 112388T=TBRC 6786T)], Kibdelosporangiumrhizosphaerae sp. nov. [type strain K10-0543T (=NBRC 112389T=TBRC 6787T)] and Kibdelosporangium rhizovicinum sp. nov. [type strain K12-0791T (=NBRC 112390T=TBRC 6788T)].

1-Methoxypyrrole-2-carboxamide-A new pyrrole compound isolated from Streptomyces griseocarneus SWW368.

A new pyrrole compound, 1-methoxypyrrole-2-carboxamide, was obtained from a culture broth of Streptomyces griseocarneus SWW368, which was isolated from the rhizospheric soil under a Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). The chemical structure was elucidated by 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and MS, as a pyrrole ring with a N-methoxy group and a primary amide group. It exhibited antibacterial properties against Kocuria rhizophila, Staphylococcus aureus and Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae; however, cytotoxicity of the compound at 714 µM against several mammalian tumor cell lines, i.e. A549, PANC1, HT29, HT1299 and HeLa S3, were not detected.

Nonomuraea purpurea sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from mangrove sediment.

A polyphasic approach was used to verify the novel actinomycete, strain 1SM4-01T, isolated from mangrove sediment collected from Ranong Province, Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the organism was a member of the genus Nonomuraea and was most closely related to Nonomuraea syzygii GKU 164T (98.7 % sequence similarity), Nonomuraea rhizophila YIM 67092T (98.4 %), Nonomuraea solani NEAU-Z6T (98.4 %), Nonomuraea monospora PT708T (98.3 %) and Nonomuraea thailandensis KC-061T (98.2 %). The strain produced branching aerial mycelium which differentiated into straight chains of rough-surfaced spores borne at the end of a short sporophore. The whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, with madurose, mannose and ribose as the main sugars. MK-9(H4) was a major menaquinone of this strain. The acyl type of peptidoglycan was N-acetyl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C17 : 1ω8c and iso-C16 : 0. Phospholipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, aminophospholipids and unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, DNA-DNA relatedness and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 1SM4-01T represents a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea, for which the name Nonomuraea purpurea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1SM4-01T (=BCC 60397T=NBRC 109647T).

Nocardiopsissediminis sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment.

A filamentous actinomycete, designated strain 1SS5-02T, was isolated from mangrove sediment collected from Ranong province, Thailand. The strain formed aerial and substrate mycelia composed of long, branched hyphae. Aerial mycelia differentiated into non-motile, rod-shaped spores. The organism contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and no diagnostic sugars in whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinones were MK-11(H4), MK-11(H6) and MK-11(H8). Polar lipids comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids and four unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, 10-methyl C18 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 73.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 1SS5-02T belonged to the genus Nocardiopsis. The strain showed the highest degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with 'Nocardiopsis mangrovei' HA11166 (97.9 %) and Nocardiopsis trehalosi VKM Ac-942T (97.8 %). However, strain 1SS5-02T could be distinguished from its nearest phylogenetic relatives in the genus Nocardiopsis on the basis of DNA-DNA relatedness values and the combination of phenotypic properties. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomy, strain 1SS5-02T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nocardiopsis, for which the name Nocardiopsis sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1SS5-02T (=BCC 75410T=NBRC 110934T).

Actinorhabdospora filicis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Micromonosporaceae.

The actinomycete strains K12-0408T and K12-0792 were isolated on CM-cellulose agar from rhizosphere soil of a pteridophytic plant collected in Tokyo prefecture, Japan. Their taxonomic positions were determined using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains K12-0408T and K12-0792 were positioned within the family Micromonosporaceae. The strains formed extensively branched aerial and substrate mycelia. Long chains of cylindrical spores with smooth surfaces were formed on aerial hyphae. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, and galactose, glucose, mannose and ribose were detected in whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H4) and MK-10(H6). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 2-OH. The DNA G+C contents of strains K12-0408T and K12-0792 were 69.6 and 69.7 mol%, respectively. Based on data from the present polyphasic taxonomic study, strains K12-0408T and K12-0792 represent a novel genus, for which the name Actinorhabdospora gen. nov. is proposed, with strain K12-0408T (=NBRC 111897T=TBRC 5327T) as the type strain of the type species, Actinorhabdosporafilicis sp. nov.

Proposal of Sphaerimonospora cavernae gen. nov., sp. nov. and transfer of Microbispora mesophila (Zhang et al., 1998) to Sphaerimonospora mesophila comb. nov. and Microbispora thailandensis (Duangmal et al., 2012) to Sphaerimonospora thailandensis comb. nov.

The actinomycete strain N74T, isolated from cave soil, was studied using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain N74T formed a stable, distinct lineage cluster together with Microbispora thailandensis NN276T (99.3% similarity) and Microbispora mesophila JCM 3151T (97.5%). Strain N74T was observed to produce single spherical spores on aerial mycelium as reported for M. mesophila JCM 3151T and M. thailandensis NN276T but different from other known species of the genus Microbispora, which are characterized by pairs of spores on aerial hyphae. Multilocus sequence analyses based on concatenated partial gyrB, rpoB, atpD, recA and 16S rRNA gene sequences showed a clear distinction of strain N74T, M. mesophila JCM 3151T and M. thailandensis NN276T from other members of the genus Microbispora, although the chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain N74T were similar to the genus Microbispora; the cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the whole-cell hydrolysate contained madurose as the diagnostic sugar. The major menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The fatty acid profile contained iso-C16:0. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic evidence, strain N74T is assigned to a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Sphaerimonospora cavernae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Sphaerimonospora cavernae is N74T (=BCC 77604T=NBRC 111481T). It is also proposed that M. mesophila and M. thailandensis be transferred to this genus as Sphaerimonospora mesophila comb. nov. (type strain JCM 3151T=NBRC 14179T=DSM 43048T) and Sphaerimonospora thailandensis comb. nov. (type strain NN276T=BCC 41490T=NBRC 107569T), respectively.

Actinopolyspora salinaria sp. nov., a halophilic actinomycete isolated from solar saltern soil.

The taxonomic position of the halophilic actinobacterial strain, HS05-03T, isolated from solar saltern soil, was determined using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain showed that it formed a distinct evolutionary lineage in the genus Actinopolyspora. The organism was most closely related to the type strains of the species Actinopolyspora xinjiangensis (98.0% similarity), Actinopolyspora righensis (97.9% similarity), Actinopolyspora lacussalsi (97.9% similarity) and Actinopolyspora erythraea (97.8% similarity). The whole-organism hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, galactose and ribose. The predominant menaquinones were found to be MK-9(H4) and MK-10(H4). The acyl type of the peptidoglycan was N-acetyl. The diagnostic phospholipid detected was phosphatidylcholine. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17:0 and iso-C15:0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 69.9 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain HS05-03T and the type strains of the most closely related species were below the 70 % threshold. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic data, it is proposed that strain HS05-03T represents a novel species of the genus Actinopolyspora, with the name Actinopolyspora salinaria sp. nov. The type strain is HS05-03T (=BCC 51286T=NBRC 109078T).

Kineococcus mangrovi sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, motile, coccus-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain L2-1-L1T, was isolated from mangrove sediment in Thailand. The organism was deep orange, oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Growth occurred at temperatures between 17 and 32 °C and with NaCl concentrations up to 10 %. Chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain L2-1-L1T were typical of the genus Kineococcus. The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose and ribose. The menaquinone was MK-9(H2). Mycolic acids were not detected. Anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0 were detected as the major cellular fatty acids. The major polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified phosphoglycolipid. The G+C content of the DNA was 74.7 mol%. A phylogenetic tree, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that strain L2-1-L1T represents a novel member of the genus Kineococcus. The most closely related species were Kineococcus endophytica KLBMP 1274T, Kineococcus aurantiacus NBRC 15268T and Kineococcus rhizosphaerae RP-B16T, with 98.9, 98.6 and 98.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness data, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data, a novel species of the genus Kineococcus is proposed: Kineococcus magrovi sp. nov. The type strain is strain L2-1-L1T ( = BCC 75409T = NBRC 110933T).

Streptomyces oryzae sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from stems of rice plant.

An actinomycete strain S16-07(T), isolated from surface-sterilized stems of rice plant (Oryza sativa L.), was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated affiliation of the strain belonged to the genus Streptomyces. The highest levels of sequence similarity were found with Streptomyces smyrnaeus SM3501(T) (97.7% similarity), S. abikoensis NBRC 13860(T) (97.6% similarity) and S. thermocarboxydovorans NBRC 16324(T) (97.5% similarity). The cell wall of strain S16-07(T) contained LL-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8). Phospholipids detected were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The major cellular fatty acids were ai-C(15:0), i-C(16:0) and ai-C(17:0). The G+C content of strain S16-07(T) was 70.4 mol%. On the basis of the phylogeny of the isolate and its differences from the most closely related species, the isolate S16-07(T) represents a novel species for which the name S. oryzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S16-07(T) (=BCC 60400(T)=NBRC 109761(T)).

Isolation of rhizospheric and roots endophytic actinomycetes from Leguminosae plant and their activities to inhibit soybean pathogen, Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycine.

In this study, actinomycetes from roots and rhizospheric soils of leguminous plants were isolated using starch casein agar supplemented with antifungal and antibacterial antibiotics. Three hundred and seventeen actinomycetes were isolated with 77 isolates obtained from plant roots and 240 isolates from rhizospheric soils. Analysis of whole-organism hydrolysates showed that 289 strains were rich in the LL-isomer of diaminopimelic acid, a result consistent with their assignment to the streptomycetes. The remaining 28 strains were assigned to non-streptomycetes based on the presence of meso-isomer of diaminopimelic acid in cell wall. Sixty-four isolates (20.2%) showed antagonistic activity against soybean pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycine by agar overlay method. Isolate RM 365 showed the highest activity with an inhibition ratio of 3.79, with no inhibitory activity on the growth of Rhizobium japonicum TISTR 079, Rhizobium sp. TISTR 061 and Rhizobium sp. TISTR 063. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that isolate RM 365 shared 99.28% similarity to Streptomyces caeruleatus GIMN4(T) (GQ329712). In addition, isolates which contained meso-DAP were also identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The results showed that they were members of the genus Amycolatopsis, Isoptericola, Micromonospora, Microbispora, Nocardia, Nonomuraea, Promicromonospora and Pseudonocardia.

Sphaerisporangium rufum sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete from roots of Oryza sativa L.

An endophytic actinomycete, strain R10-82(T), isolated from surface-sterilized roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was studied using a polyphasic approach. Strain R10-82(T) produced branching substrate mycelia and developed spherical spore vesicles on aerial hyphae containing non-motile spores. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 and 10-methyl C17 : 0. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9, MK-9(H2), MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6). Rhamnose, ribose, madurose, mannose and glucose were detected in whole-cell hydrolysates. The diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, hydroxylphosphatidylethanolamine and ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipids. These morphological and chemotaxonomic data were similar to those of the genus Sphaerisporangium. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain R10-82(T) was related most closely to Sphaerisporangium cinnabarinum JCM 3291(T) (98.3 % similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain R10-82(T) was 74 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness data in combination with differences in the biochemical and physiological properties suggested that strain R10-82(T) should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Sphaerisporangium, for which the name Sphaerisporangium rufum is proposed. The type strain is R10-82(T) ( = BCC 51287(T) = NBRC 109079(T)). An emended description of the genus Sphaerisporangium is also provided.

Microbispora thailandensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from cave soil.

The taxonomic position of actinomycete strain NN276(T), isolated from cave soil, was studied using the polyphasic taxonomic approach. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a distinct evolutionary linage with the genus Microbispora, with M. mesophila JCM 3151(T) as its closest phylogenetic neighbor (97.9% similarity). The organism contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the N-acetyl type of peptidoglycan. Madurose was detected in the whole-cell hydrolasate. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H(4)), MK-9(H(2)) and MK-9. Mycolic acids were not detected. Major phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The major cellular fatty acid was iso-C(16: 0) and G+C content 70 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization demonstrated that the isolate was distinct from M. mesophila JCM 3151(T). On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, it is proposed that strain NN276(T) represents a novel species of the genus Microbispora, hence the name Microbispora thailandensis sp. nov. The type strain is strain NN276(T) (=BCC 41490(T)=NRRL B-24806(T)=NBRC 107569(T)).

Sphaerisporangium siamense sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from rubber-tree rhizospheric soil.

A Gram-positive aerobic actinomycete, designated SR14.14(T), isolated from the rhizospheric soil of rubber tree was determined taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. The organism contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the N-acetyl type of peptidoglycan. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9, MK-9(H2) and MK-9(H4). Madurose was detected in the whole-cell hydrolysates. Mycolic acids were not presented. Major phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. Major cellular fatty acid was iso-C(16:0) and the G+C content was 71.9 mol %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence suggested that the isolate belongs to the genus Sphaerisporangium. The sequence similarity value between the strain SR14.14(T) and its closely related species, Sphaerisporangium album, was 97.8%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between them were well below 70%. Based on genotypic and phenotypic data, strain SR14.14(T) represents a novel species in the genus Sphaerisporangium, for which the name Sphaerisporangium siamense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SR14.14(T) (=BCC 41491(T)=NRRL B-24805(T)=NBRC 107570(T)).

Amycolatopsis samaneae sp. nov., isolated from roots of Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain RM287(T), was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr., collected from Bangkok, Thailand. The status of the novel strain was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the organism formed a distinct phyletic line within the radiation of the genus Amycolatopsis. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated that strain RM287(T) was most closely related to Amycolatopsis mediterranei IMSNU 20056(T) (97.4 %), A. rifamycinica DSM 46095(T) (97.2 %), A. kentuckyensis NRRL B-24129(T) (97.2 %), A. pretoriensis DSM 44654(T) (97 %) and A. australiensis DSM 44671(T) (97 %). The novel organism was found to have chemical properties typical of members of the genus Amycolatopsis such as meso-diaminopimelic acid as the dignostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan and arabinose and galactose as the diagnostic sugars. The major menaquinone was MK-9(H(4)). The major fatty acids were iso-C(16 : 0) iso-C(15 : 0), iso 2-OH-C(16 : 0) and iso-C(17 : 0). The DNA G+C content was 71.7 mol%. Phenotypic data clearly distinguished the novel isolate from its closest relatives. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that strain RM287(T) represented a novel species of the genus Amycolatopsis. The proposed name for this organism is Amycolatopsis samaneae sp. nov., with the type strain RM287(T) ( = TISTR 1919(T) = BCC 35842(T) = NBRC 106095(T)).

Saccharopolyspora phatthalungensis sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of Hevea brasiliensis.

The taxonomic position of a rhizosphere soil isolate, designated strain SR8.15T, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on an almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain showed that it formed a well-separated sub-branch within the radiation encompassing the genus Saccharopolyspora. Highest levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were found between strain SR8.15T and Saccharopolyspora shandongensis CGMCC 4.3530T (98.9%) and Saccharopolyspora spinosa DSM 44228T (98.5%). However, these strains shared low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness (<26%). Strain SR8.15T had chemical characteristics consistent with its classification in the genus Saccharopolyspora. It contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained arabinose and galactose. The diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The main menaquinone was MK-9(H4). No mycolic acid was detected. The predominant cellular fatty acid was iso-C16:0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain SR8.15T was 70.3 mol%. Strain SR8.15T had a phenotypic profile that readily distinguished it from recognized representatives of the genus Saccharopolyspora. It is evident from its combined genotypic and phenotypic properties that strain SR8.15T represents a novel species of the genus Saccharopolyspora, for which the name Saccharopolyspora phatthalungensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SR8.15T (=TISTR 1921T=BCC 35844T=NRRL B-24798T).