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Arctium lappa L. is one of the medicinal and food homologous plants in China, which is rich in nutrients and medicinal ingredients. The use of plant growth-promoting (PGP) endophytic bacteria is an alternative to reducing chemical fertilizers in agricultural production. The aim of this study was to analyze the diversity of endophytic bacteria in different cultivars of A. lappa L. collected from two geographical locations in China and evaluate PGP traits of the isolates and their potential PGP ability in greenhouse condition. Endophytic bacterial community was investigated by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Isolates were screened and investigated for multiple PGP traits, and representative strains were inoculated host seedlings to evaluate the growth promoting effect. A total of 348 endophytic bacteria were obtained and they were distributed into 4 phyla and 30 genera. In addition, high throughput sequencing revealed more abundant bacterial community, including 17 bacterial phyla and 207 genera. A high proportion of PGP traits were detected, including production of indole acetic acid, siderophore, ammonia and phosphate solubilization. Four representative strains with multiple PGP traits of the most dominant genera (Bacillus, Pantoea, Microbacterium and Pseudomonas) were further selected for host inoculation and growth promoting evaluation, and they significantly increase seedlings length, root length and fresh weight. This study demonstrated that A. lappa L. harbors abundant endophytic bacteria, and some endophytic bacteria showed good potential for the development of microbial fertilizer in the future., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

A microcystin-degrading strain, designated CPCC 100154(T), was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Hainan Island, South China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CPCC 100154(T) is affiliated to the family Sinobacteraceae in Gammaproteobacteria, with high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.1, 96.6 and 96.6 % to Steroidobacter agariperforans JCM 18477(T), S. denitrificansis DSM 18526(T), and Povalibacter uvarum JCM 18749(T), respectively. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 100154(T) formed a stable phylogenetic subclade with S. agariperforans JCM 18477(T), which indicated that strain CPCC 100154(T) should be identified as a member of the genus Steroidobacter. The phylogenetic analysis based on partial gyrB gene sequences confirmed the affiliation of strain CPCC 100154(T) to the genus Steroidobacter. While the DNA-DNA hybridization value (47.0 ± 1.7 %) between the new isolate and its near phylogenetic neighbor S. agariperforans JCM 18477(T) was far below 70 %, which demonstrated that strain CPCC 100154(T) represents a different genomic species from S. agariperforans. The strain CPCC 100154(T) was found to be a Gram-stain negative, rod-shaped, motile with a polar flagellum, non-endospore-forming bacterium. Good growth was observed at 28-32 °C and pH 7.0-7.5. Polar lipids were identified to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, a unidentified phospholipid, an aminophospholipid and an unidentified aminolipid. The polyamine pattern was determined to contain spermidine as the predominant polyamine, moderate amounts of putrescine as well as traces of sym-homospermidine and spermine. The respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone-8. The major cellular fatty acids were found to include summed feature 3 (C16: 1 ω7C/C16: 1 ω6C) (46.1 %) and C16: 0 (29.6 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 64.4 mol%. On the basis of the above polyphasic taxonomy evidence, a novel species, Steroidobacter flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 100154(T) (=DSM 23339(T) =CGMCC 1.10759(T)).

A novel endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain SP28S-3(T), was isolated from a surface-sterilized stem of Tamarix taklamakanensis collected from the southern edge of Taklamakan desert, Xinjiang, China. Strain SP28S-3(T) was found to show chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with its classification in the genus Prauserella. The polar lipids were found to consist of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, a glycolipid, an aminolipid and unidentified phospholipids. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were identified as iso-C16:0 and C16:0. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 69.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of strain SP28S-3(T) clearly showed that the strain had the highest similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequence with Prauserella coralliicola SCSIO 11529(T) (99.9 %), followed by Prauserella marina DSM 45268(T) (97.0 %) and is affiliated with the genus Prauserella. The low level (47.8 ± 5.5 %) of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain SP28S-3(T) and P. coralliicola SCSIO 11529(T) combined with other polyphasic taxonomic evidence clearly support the conclusion that strain SP28S-3(T) represents a novel Prauserella species, for which the name Prauserella endophytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SP28S-3(T) (=DSM 46655(T) = CGMCC 4.7182 (T)).

The fungal communities associated with three bryophytes species (the liverwort Barbilophozia hatcheri, the mosses Chorisodontium aciphyllum and Sanionia uncinata) in the Fildes Region, King George Island, maritime Antarctica, were studied using clone library analysis. Fungal communities showed low diversity; the 680 clones belonged to 93 OTUs. Of these, 78 belonged to the phylum Ascomycota, 13 to the phylum Basidiomycota, 1 to the phylum Zygomycota, and 1 to an unknown phylum. Among the OTUs, the most common orders in the Ascomycota were Helotiales (42 OTUs) and Chaetothyriales (14 OTUs) and the most common orders in the Basidiomycota were Sebacinales (3 OTUs) and Platygloeales (3 OTUs). Most OTUs clustered within clades that contained phylotypes identified from samples in Antarctic or Arctic ecosystems or from bryophytes in other ecosystems. In addition, we found that host-related factor may shape the fungal communities associated with bryophytes in this region. This is the first systematic study of the fungal community in Antarctic bryophytes to be performed using culture-independent method and the results may improve understanding of the endophytic fungal evolution and ecology in the Antarctic ecosystem.

A novel Gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, non spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JSM 083058(T), was isolated from non-saline forest soil in Hunan Province, China. Growth occurred with 0-8% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5-3%) at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and at 5-35°C (optimum, 25-30°C). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 083058(T) fell within the cluster comprising species of the genus Sphingomonas, clustering with Sphingomonas aestuarii K4(T), with which it shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.2%). The chemotaxonomic properties of strain JSM 083058(T) were consistent with those of the genus Sphingomonas. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10, and the major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c), C16:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c) and C17:1ω6c. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and sphingoglycolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JSM 083058(T) was 65.5 mol%. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the view that strain JSM 083058(T) represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas hunanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 083058(T) (=CCTCC AA 209011(T) = DSM 22213(T)).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, endospore-forming, motile, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JSM 081003(T), was isolated from non-saline forest soil in Hunan Province, China. Growth occurred with 0.5-15% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-4%) at pH 6.5-10.5 (optimum pH 7.5-8.5) and at 5-40 °C (optimum 30 °C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C14:0. Strain JSM 081003(T) contained MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain JSM 081003(T) was 40.9 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 081003(T) should be assigned to the genus Bacillus, and was related most closely to the type strains of Bacillus lehensis (sequence similarity 99.6%), Bacillus oshimensis (99.4%) and Bacillus patagoniensis (96.6%); lower than 96.0% sequence similarity was observed with other Bacillus species. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the view that strain JSM 081003(T) represents a new species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus hunanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 081003(T) (= DSM 23008(T) = KCTC 13711(T)).

A Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JSM 081008(T), was isolated from non-saline forest soil in China. Strain JSM 081008(T) was able to grow with 0-20% (w/v) NaCl, at pH 6.0-10.5 and at 10-45 degrees C; optimum growth was observed with 2-5% (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0-8.0 and at 30-35 degrees C. The peptidoglycan type was A1alpha linked directly through L-Lys. The major cellular fatty acids (>10% of the total) were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C16:0. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 and the genomic DNA G + C content of the strain was 42.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 081008(T) should be assigned to the genus Jeotgalibacillus and was related most closely to the type strains of Jeotgalibacillus alimentarius (sequence similarity 99.4%) and Jeotgalibacillus salarius (97.0%), followed by Jeotgalibacillus campisalis (95.4%) and Jeotgalibacillus marinus (95.2%). The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the view that strain JSM 081008(T) represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibacillus, for which the name Jeotgalibacillus soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 081008(T) (=DSM 22174(T) = KCTC 13528(T)). An emended description of the genus Jeotgalibacillus is also presented.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, facultatively alkaliphilic, non-motile, non-sporulating, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 070026(T), was isolated from non-saline forest soil in China. Growth occurred with 0-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2-4%) and at pH 6.0-10.5 (optimum, pH 8.0) and 5-40 degrees C (optimum, 30 degrees C). Good growth also occurred in the presence of 0-28% (w/v) KCl (optimum, 2-5%) or 0-25% (w/v) MgCl(2)*6H(2)O (optimum, 1-4%). The peptidoglycan type was A4alpha (L: -Lys-Gly-L: -Glu). Cell-wall sugars contained mannose and xylose. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0. Strain JSM 070026(T) contained menaquinone 8 as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids. The DNA G + C content of strain JSM 070026(T) was 56.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JSM 070026(T) was a member of the suborder Micrococcineae and most closely related to Yaniella flava YIM 70178(T) (sequence similarity 99.4%) and Yaniella halotolerans YIM 70085(T) (97.9%). The three strains formed a distinct branch in the phylogenetic tree. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the proposal that strain JSM 070026(T) represents a novel species of the genus Yaniella, for which the name Yaniella soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 070026(T) (=DSM 22211(T) = KCTC 13527(T)).

To investigate the diversity of culturable actinobacteria and further screen for microbial pharmaceutics, seven different media were chosen to isolate actinobacteria from 87 soil samples collected from Qinghai-Tibet plateau. A total of 1930 strains was isolated and identified to belong to 11 suborders, i.e., Actinopolysporineae, Corynebacterineae, Frankineae, Glycomycineae, Kineosporiineae, Micrococcineae, Micromonosporineae, Propionibacterineae, Pseudonocardineae, Streptomycineae and Streptosporangineae, and 16 families, i.e., Nocardioidaceae, Actinopolysporaceae, Actinosynnemataceae, Dermacoccaceae, Geodermatophilaceae, Glycomycetaceae, Kineosporiaceae, Microbacteriaceae, Micromonosporaceae, Nocardiaceae, Promicromonosporaceae, Propionibacteriaceae, Pseudonocardiaceae, Streptomycetaceae, Streptosporangiaceae and Thermomonosporaceae. A primary taxonomic study showed that at least 22 genera of actinobacteria were identified from the soil samples, among which ten isolates represented hitherto unknown species. The results showed that there was abundant actinobacterial species diversity in the soil samples from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

A novel moderately halophilic, alkaliphilic, non-motile, non-sporulating, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, aerobic, coccus-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium, designated strain JSM 071043(T), was isolated from a subterranean brine sample collected from a salt mine in Hunan Province, China. Growth occurred with 0.5-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 5-10%) at pH 6.5-10.5 (optimum pH 8.5) and at 10-40 degrees C (optimum 25-30 degrees C). Good growth also occurred in the presence of 0.5-20% (w/v) KCl (optimum 5-8%) or 0.5-25% (w/v) MgCl(2).6H(2)O (optimum 5-10%). The peptidoglycan type was A4alpha (L: -Lys-L: -Ala-L: -Glu) and major cell-wall sugars were tyvelose and mannose. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(16:0) and anteiso-C(17:0). Strain JSM 071043(T) contained MK-9 and MK-8 as the predominant menaquinones and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids. The DNA G + C content was 67.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JSM 071043(T) was a member of the suborder Micrococcineae, and was most closely related to Zhihengliuella halotolerans YIM 70185(T) (sequence similarity 98.9%) and Zhihengliuella alba YIM 90734(T) (98.2%), and the three strains formed a distinct branch in the phylogenetic tree. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the proposal that strain JSM 071043(T) represents a novel species of the genus Zhihengliuella, for which the name Z. salsuginis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 071043(T) (= DSM 21149(T) = KCTC 19466(T)).

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, facultatively alkaliphilic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, obligately aerobic, filamentous actinomycete strain, designated YIM 90022(T), was isolated from saline soil collected from the Qaidam Basin, north-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolate was a member of the genus Nocardiopsis and the sequence similarities between the isolate and the type strains of members of the genus Nocardiopsis were in the range of 95.1-98.7%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties of this organism also indicated that strain YIM 90022(T) was a member of the genus Nocardiopsis. The strain grew well on most of the media tested, producing yellow-white to deep brown substrate mycelium and white aerial mycelium. Light gray to deep brown diffusible pigments were produced. The substrate mycelium was well developed and fragmented with age; the aerial mycelium produced long, straight to flexuous spore chains with non-motile, smooth-surfaced, rod-shaped spores on them. The strain grew in the presence of 1-15% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 3-5%) and at pH 6.0-10.5 (optimum, pH 8.5) and 10-45 degrees C (optimum, 30 degrees C). Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain YIM 90022(T) contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and no diagnostic sugars. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H(4)), MK-9(H(8)), MK-10(H(6)) and MK-10(H(8)). Polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylmethylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C(16:0), anteiso-C(17:0), 10-methyl-C(18:0) and 10-methyl-C(17:0). The DNA G + C content of strain YIM 90022(T) was 71.5 mol%. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness data, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the suggestion that strain YIM 90022(T) represents a new species of the genus Nocardiopsis, for which the name Nocardiopsis terrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 90022(T) (=CCTCC AA 208011(T) =KCTC 19431(T)).

A moderately halophilic, Gram-positive, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 071077(T), was isolated from a subterranean brine sample collected from a salt mine in Hunan Province, China. Cells were motile by means of peritrichous flagella and formed ellipsoidal endospores lying in subterminal swollen sporangia. Strain JSM 071077(T) was able to grow with 2-25% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 5-10%), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and 10-40 degrees C (optimum, 25-30 degrees C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7, and the major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), anteiso-C(17:0) and iso-C(15:0). The genomic DNA G+C content was 41.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 071077(T) should be assigned to the genus Halobacillus, being related most closely to the type strain of Halobacillus naozhouensis (98.8% sequence similarity), and the two strains formed a distinct subline in the neighbor-joining, minimum-evolution and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees. The sequence similarities between the novel isolate and the type strains of other recognized Halobacillus species ranged from 97.6% (with Halobacillus alkaliphilus) to 95.2% (with Halobacillus kuroshimensis). The results of the phylogenetic analyses, combined with DNA-DNA relatedness data, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic information, support that strain JSM 071077(T) represents a new species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus hunanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 071077(T) (=DSM 21184(T) = KCTC 13235(T)).

A Gram-positive, endospore-forming, catalase- and oxidase-positive, motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 079157(T), was isolated from surface seawater off the coastline of Naozhou Island in South China Sea. The organism was able to grow with 1-15% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 4-7%), and at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and 10-45 degrees C (optimum, 30 degrees C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7, and the polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0) (45.1%) and anteiso-C(17:0) (16.2%), and the DNA G + C content was 39.5 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 079157(T) should be assigned to the genus Virgibacillus, being related most closely to the type strains of Virgibacillus litoralis (97.4% sequence similarity), Virgibacillus necropolis (97.3%) and Virgibacillus carmonensis (97.1%). These four strains formed a distinct subcluster in the phylogenetic tree. The levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between the new isolate and the type strains of V. litoralis, V. necropolis and V. carmonensis were 30.4, 19.3 and 12.6%, respectively. The results of the phylogenetic analysis, combined with DNA-DNA relatedness data, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic information, support the suggestion that strain JSM 079157(T) represents a new species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus zhanjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 079157(T) (=DSM 21084(T) = KCTC 13227(T)).

A novel Gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-sporulating, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 078120(T), was isolated from sea water collected from a tidal flat of Naozhou Island, South China Sea. Growth occurred with 1-15% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 2-4%), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and at 4-35 degrees C (optimum, 25-30 degrees C). The major cellular fatty acids were C(18:1) omega9c, C(16:0), C(12:0) 3-OH and C(16:1) omega7c. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-9, and the genomic DNA G + C content was 60.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 078120(T) should be assigned to the genus Marinobacter, being related most closely to the type strains of Marinobacter segnicrescens (sequence similarity 98.2%), Marinobacter bryozoorum (97.9%) and Marinobacter gudaonensis (97.6%). The sequence similarities between the novel isolate and the type strains of other recognized Marinobacter species ranged from 96.7 (with Marinobacter salsuginis) to 93.3% (with Marinobacter litoralis). The levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain JSM 078120(T) and the type strains of M. segnicrescens, M. bryozoorum and M. gudaonensis were 25.3, 20.6 and 18.8%, respectively. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the view that strain JSM 078120(T) represents a novel species of the genus Marinobacter, for which the name Marinobacter zhanjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 078120(T) (= CCTCC AB 208029(T) = DSM 21077(T) = KCTC 22280(T)).

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, endospore-forming, catalase- and oxidase-positive, motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 089168(T), was isolated from saline soil collected from Naozhou Island, Leizhou Bay, South China Sea. The organism was able to grow with 2-25% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 5-10%), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and 10-45 degrees C (optimum, 30 degrees C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The strain contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone, and diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(15:0) and anteiso-C(17:0), and the DNA G + C content was 40.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 089168(T) should be assigned to the genus Virgibacillus, being related most closely to the type strains of Virgibacillus carmonensis (sequence similarity 97.6%), Virgibacillus necropolis (97.3%) and Virgibacillus halodenitrificans (97.1%). Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain JSM 089168(T) and the type strains of V. carmonensis, V. necropolis and V. halodenitrificans were 20.4, 14.3 and 12.0%, respectively. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the view that strain JSM 089168(T) represents a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus litoralis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 089168(T) (=DSM 21085(T) =KCTC 13228(T)).

A pale yellow-colored, moderately halophilic, Gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-sporulating, rod-shaped, motile, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 073008(T), was isolated from a sea anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) collected from Naozhou Island, Leizhou Bay, South China Sea. The organism was able to grow with 1-20% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 5-10%), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and 10-40 degrees C (optimum, 25-30 degrees C). The major cellular fatty acids were C(16:0), C(16:1) omega7c/iso-C(15:0) 2-OH and C(18:1) omega7c. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified phospholipid. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-8 and the genomic DNA G + C content was 47.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 073008(T) should be assigned to the genus Alteromonas, being most closely related to Alteromonas hispanica F-32(T) (sequence similarity 96.9%), followed by Alteromonas genovensis LMG 24078(T) (96.6%) and Alteromonas litorea TF-22(T) (96.4%). The sequence similarities between the novel isolate and the type strains of other recognized Alteromonas species ranged from 95.9% (with Alteromonas stellipolaris ANT 69a(T)) to 94.5% (with Alteromonas simiduii BCRC 17572(T)). The combination of phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the view that strain JSM 073008(T) represents a new species of the genus Alteromonas, for which the name Alteromonas halophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 073008(T) (=CCTCC AA 207035(T) = KCTC 22164(T)).

A moderately halophilic, Gram-positive, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 071068(T), was isolated from a sea anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) collected from the Naozhou Island on the Leizhou Bay in the South China Sea. Cells were motile by means of peritrichous flagella and formed ellipsoidal endospores lying in subterminal swollen sporangia. Strain JSM 071068(T) was able to grow with 1-20% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 6-9%), at pH values of 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and a temperature range of 10-35 degrees C (optimum, 25 degrees C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7 and the major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), anteiso-C(17:0) and iso-C(15:0). The genomic DNA G + C content was 42.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 071068(T) belonged to the genus Halobacillus. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain JSM 071068(T) and the type strains of the recognized Halobacillus species ranged from 97.9% (with Halobacillus alkaliphilus) to 95.3% (with Halobacillus kuroshimensis). The levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between the new isolate and the type strains of H. alkaliphilus, Halobacillus campisalis, Halobacillus halophilus and Halobacillus seohaensis were 25.6, 22.1, 10.8 and 13.2%, respectively. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the view that strain JSM 071068(T) represents a new species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus naozhouensis sp. nov. is proposed, with JSM 071068(T) (=DSM 21183(T) =KCTC 13234(T)) as the type strain.

A novel Gram-positive, halotolerant, non-sporulating, non-motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 078085(T), was isolated from sea water collected from the South China Sea. Strain JSM 078085(T) exhibited a rod-coccus growth cycle and produced a yellow pigment. The strain was able to grow in the presence of 0-12% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.0-9.5 and 4-35 degrees C; optimum growth was observed at pH 7.0 and 25-30 degrees C in the absence of NaCl. The peptidoglycan type was A4alpha (L: -Lys-L: -Ala-L: -Glu). Cell-wall sugars contained galactose and glucose. Strain JSM 078085(T) contained menaquinone MK-9(H(2)) as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(15:0) and anteiso-C(17:0) and the DNA G + C content was 63.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 078085(T) should be assigned to the genus Arthrobacter, being most closely related to the type strain of Arthrobacter rhombi (sequence similarity 97.1%), and the two strains formed a distinct lineage in the phylogenetic tree. The level of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain JSM 078085(T) and the type strain of Arthrobacter rhombi was 10.6%. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the view that strain JSM 078085(T) represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter halodurans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 078085(T) (=DSM 21081(T)=KCTC 19430(T)).

A novel actinomycete strain, designated YIM 45720(T), was isolated from a Cephalotaxus fortunei rhizophere soil sample collected from Yunnan Province, southwest China. The strain formed well-differentiated aerial and substrate mycelia. Chemotaxonomically, it contained LL-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall. The cell-wall sugars contained ribose, mannose, and galactose with traces of glucose and xylose. Phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol. MK-9 (H(8)) was the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids (>10%) were iso-C(16:0), iso-C(15:1) and anteiso-C(15:0). The G + C content of the DNA was 70 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis data based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain YIM 45720(T) formed a distinct branch with the type strain of Streptomyces scabrisporus JCM 11712(T) within the genus Streptomyces. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain YIM 45720(T) (=DSM 41883(T) = CCTCC AA 206006(T)) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species, Streptomyces serianimatus sp. nov.