Chitinophaga soli sp nov and Chitinophaga terrae sp nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon Province, Korea

Abstract

Two novel strains of the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides (CFB) group, designated Gsoil 219(T) and Gsoil 238(T), were isolated from soil of a ginseng field of Pocheon Province in Korea. Both strains were Grain -negative, aerobic, nonmotile, nonspore-forming, and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that both isolates belong to the genus Chitinophaga but were clearly separated from established species of this genus. The sequence similarities between strain Gsoil 219(T) and type strains of the established species and between strain Gsoil 238(T) and type strains of the established species ranged from 91.4 to 94.7% and 91.6 to 94.2%, respectively. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data (major menaquinone, MK-7; major fatty acids, iso-C-15.0 and C-16:1 omega 5c; major hydroxy fatty acid, iso-C-17:0 3-OH; major polyamine, homospermidine) supported the affiliation of both strains Gsoil 219(T) and Gsoil 238(T) to the genus Chitinophaga. Furthermore, the results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of both strains from the other validated Chitinophaga species. Therefore, the two isolates represent two novel species, for which the name Chitinophaga soli sp. nov. (type strain, Gsoil 219(T)=KCTC 12650(T)=DSM 18093(T)) and Chitinophaga terrae sp. nov. (type strain, Gsoil 238(T) =KCTC 1265(T) (T)=DSM 18078(T)) are proposed.