Photobacterium marinum sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from a sediment sample from Palk Bay,India

The novel, cream colored, Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacteria, designated strains AK15^T and AK18, were isolated from sediment samples collected from Palk Bay, India. Both strains were positive for arginine dihydrolase, lysine decarboxylase, oxidase, nitrate reduction and methyl red test. The major fatty acids were C_16:0, C_{18:1 ω7c}, C_{16:1 ω7c} and/or C_{16:1 ω6c} and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH (summed feature 3). Polar lipids content of strains AK15^T and AK18 were found to bephosphatidylethanolamine (PE), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1 and PL2) and three unidentified lipids (L1-L3). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated strains AK15^T and AK18 as the members of the genus Photobacterium and closely related to the type strain Photobacterium jeanii with pair-wise sequence similarity of 96.7%. DNA–DNA hybridization between strain AK15^T and AK18 showed a relatedness of 87%. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, strains AK15^T and AK18 are proposed as novel species of the genus Photobacterium, for which the name Photobacterium marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Photobacterium marinum is AK15^T (=MTCC 11066^T = DSM 25368^T).     

Seminibacterium arietis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the semen of rams

Two gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, bacillus-shaped bacterial strains were isolated from the semen of two rams. 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that both isolates represented a distinct subline within the family Pasteurellaceae with <95% sequence similarity to any recognized member of this family. Sequencing of rpoB and infB genes confirmed this finding with the semen isolates representing a new sub-line within the family Pasteurellaceae. The main cell fatty acids of strain DICM-00342^T were C_14:0, C_16:0, C_18:1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c/iso-C_15:0 2OH). Ubiquinone Q-8 was the major quinone and 1,3-diaminopropane was the predominat polyamine. Major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The new genus can be phenotypically distinguished from currently described genera of this family based on physiological traits and a combination of signature amino acids in the RpoB protein sequence. On the basis of these results we describe a new genus and species for which we propose the name of Seminibacterium arietis gen. nov., sp. nov. (DICM11-00342^T = CCUG 61707^T = CECT 8033^T).     

Tahibacter aquaticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new gammaproteobacterium isolated from the drinking water supply system of Budapest (Hungary)

Three Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strains, PYM5-11^T, RaM5-2 and PYM5-8, were isolated from the drinking water supply system of Budapest (Hungary) and their taxonomic positions were investigated by a polyphasic approach. All three strains grew optimally at 20-28 °C and pH 5-7 without NaCl. The G+C content of the DNA of the type strain was 65.4 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates showed 94.5-94.9% sequence similarity to the type strain of Dokdonella koreensis and a similarity of 93.0-94.1% to the species of the genera Aquimonas and Arenimonas. The major isoprenoid quinone of the strains was ubiquinone Q-8. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:1ω9c, C_16:1ω7c, and C_16:0. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, as well as several unidentified aminolipids and phospholipids were present. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the predominant fatty acids, the polar lipid composition, RiboPrint patterns, physiological and biochemical characteristics showed that the three strains were related but distinct from the type strains of the four recognized species of the genus Dokdonella, and indicated that the strains represented a new genus within the Gammaproteobacteria. The strain PYM5-11 (=DSM 21667^T=NCAIM B 02337^T) is proposed as the type strain of a new genus and species, designated as Tahibacter aquaticus gen. nov., sp. nov.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Algoriphagus formosus</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment

A Gram-stain negative, facultative anaerobic, non-motile, strongly orange-pigmented and rod-shaped bacterium, designated XAY3209^T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from the coast of Weihai, China. Strain XAY3209^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0 and in the presence of 2.0% (w/v) NaCl. Its genomic DNA G+C content was 41.9 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the novel isolate belongs to the family Cyclobacteriaceae and is related to the genus Algoriphagus. It shares 98.1% 16S rRNA sequence identity with Algoriphagus marincola, its close phylogenetic relative, but did not show similarities more than 97% with other members of the genus Algoriphagus with validly published names. It contained menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the sole respiratory quinone, iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:1 ω9c and Summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH) as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified phospholipid and five unidentified lipids. Results of physiological experiments, biochemical tests and genome average nucleotide identity value (with A. marincola MCCC 1F01203^T) indicate that strain XAY3209^T is genetically and phenotypically distinct from the species of the genus Algoriphagus with validly published names. Strain XAY3209^T therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Algoriphagus formosus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XAY3209^T (= KCTC 52842^T = MCCC 1H00189^T).     

Algoriphagus boseongensis sp. nov., a member of the family Cyclobacteriaceae isolated from a tidal flat

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strain, BS-R1^T, was isolated from a tidal flat at Boseong, South Korea. Strain BS-R1^T was found to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BS-R1^T belongs to the genus Algoriphagus, clustering consistently with the type strain of Algoriphagus mannitolivorans, with which it exhibited 98.4 % sequence similarity. Sequence similarities between strain BS-R1^T and the type strains of the other Algoriphagus species were between 92.7 and 97.0 %. Strain BS-R1^T was found to contain MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c) as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain BS-R1^T were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 42.3 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with A. mannitolivorans KACC 11349^T was 17 ± 5 %. The phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and differential phenotypic properties demonstrated that strain BS-R1^T is distinguishable from the other Algoriphagus species as well as A. mannitolivorans. On the basis of the data presented, strain BS-R1^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus boseongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BS-R1^T (=KCTC 32580^T = CECT 8446^T).     

Rubrimonas shengliensis sp. nov. and Polymorphum gilvum gen. nov., sp. nov., novel members of Alphaproteobacteria from crude oil contaminated saline soil

Four bacterial strains were isolated from a crude oil contaminated saline soil in Shengli Oilfield, China. Strains SL014B-28A2^T and SL014B-80A1 were most closely related to Rubrimonas cliftonensis OCh 317^T, while strains SL003B-26A1^T and SL003B-26A2 were most closely related to but readily different from the species in the Pannonibacter-Labrenzia-Roseibium-Stappia cluster. The major fatty acids were C_18:1ω7c, C_16:0, C_18:0 and 11-Methyl C_18:1ω7c, and C_18:1ω7c, 11-Methyl C_18:1ω7c and C_18:0, respectively, for these two groups of isolates. Q-10 was the predominant ubiquinone. The G + C contents of genomic DNA of the four isolates were 67.9, 69.7, 65.6 and 65.6 mol%. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic characteristics, strains SL014B-28A2^T and SL014B-80A1 represented a novel species of the genus Rubrimonas, for which the name Rubrimonas shengliensis sp. nov. is proposed, with strain SL014B-28A2^T (=LMG 26072^T = CGMCC 1.9170^T) as the type strain. Isolates SL003B-26A1^T and SL003B-26A2 represented a novel genus and species of the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Polymorphum gilvum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with strain SL003B-26A1^T (=LMG 25793^T = CGMCC 1.9160^T) as the type strain.     

Larsenia salina gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Halomonadaceae based on multilocus sequence analysis

Two Gram-staining-negative, moderately halophilic bacteria, strains M1-18^T and L1-16, were isolated from a saltern located in Huelva (Spain). They were motile, strictly aerobic rods, growing in the presence of 3–25% (w/v) NaCl (optimal growth at 7.5–10% [w/v] NaCl), between pH 4.0 and 9.0 (optimal at pH 6.0–7.0) and at temperatures between 15 and 40 °C (optimal at 37 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that both strains showed the higher similarity values with Chromohalobacter israelensis ATCC 43985^T (95.2–94.8%) and Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043^T (95.0–94.9%), and similarity values lower than 94.6% with other species of the genera Chromohalobacter, Kushneria, Cobetia or Halomonas. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on the partial sequences of atpA, rpoD and secA housekeeping genes indicated that the new isolates formed an independent and monophyletic branch that was related to the peripheral genera of the family Halomonadaceae, Halotalea, Carnimonas and Zymobacter, supporting their placement as a new genus of the Halomonadaceae. The DNA–DNA hybridization between both strains was 82%, whereas the values between strain M1-18^T and the most closely related species of Chromohalobacter and Kushneria were equal or lower to 48%. The major cellular fatty acids were C_18:1ω7c/C_18:1ω6c, C_16:0, and C_16:1ω7c/C_16:1ω6c, a profile that differentiate this new taxon from species of the related genera. We propose the placement of both strains as a novel genus and species, within the family Halomonadaceae, with the name Larsenia salina gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is M1-18^T (= CCM 8464 = CECT 8192^T = IBRC-M 10767^T = LMG 27461^T).     

Four new species of Chryseobacterium from the rhizosphere of coastal sand dune plants, Chryseobacterium elymi sp. nov., Chryseobacterium hagamense sp. nov., Chryseobacterium lathyri sp. nov. and Chryseobacterium rhizosphaerae sp. nov.

The taxonomic positions of five Gram-negative, non-spore-forming and non-motile bacterial strains isolated from the rhizosphere of sand dune plants were examined using a polyphasic approach. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that all of the isolates fell into four distinct phylogenetic clusters belonging to the genus Chryseobacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of isolates to mostly related type strains of Chryseobacterium ranged from 97.5% to 98.5%. All strains contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone, and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0 3-OH and a summed feature of iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c as the dominant fatty acids. Combined phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported that they represented four novel species in the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the names Chryseobacterium hagamense sp. nov. (type strain RHA2-9^T=KCTC 22545^T=NBRC 105253^T), Chryseobacterium elymi sp. nov. (type strain RHA3-1^T=KCTC 22547^T=NBRC 105251^T), Chryseobacterium lathyri sp. nov. (type strain RBA2-6^T=KCTC 22544^T=NBRC 105250^T), and Chryseobacterium rhizosphaerae sp. nov. (type strain RSB3-1^T=KCTC 22548^T=NBRC 105248^T) are proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium parvum</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil polluted by sewer water

A novel Gram-stain-negative, motile by means of gliding, and short rod-shaped bacterium, designated HS916T, was isolated from soil polluted by sewer water in Cheonan-si, South Korea. Growth occurred at 10–35°C (optimum 30°C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum pH 7.0), and 0–1% sodium chloride (NaCl, w/v). Based on similarities of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain HS916^T was closely related to members of the genus Flavobacterium, exhibiting the highest sequence similarities with Flavobacterium glycines Gm-149^T (96.4%), followed by F. granuli Kw05^T (96.3%), F. fluminis 3R17^T (96.3%), F. aquicola TMd3a3^T (96.2%), and F. nitratireducens N1^T (96.2%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain HS916T was placed in a monophyletic cluster with F. nitratireducens N1^T and F. fluminis 3R17^T. The predominant fatty acids (> 5% of the total) of strain HS916^T were iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3-OH, C_17:1ω6с, C_16:0 3-OH, iso-C_17:0 3-OH, and summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7с and/or C_16:1ω6с). The major polar lipids of the strain comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified aminolipids, and five unidentified lipids. The predominant respiratory quinone and the major polyamine were menaquinone-6 (MK-6) and symhomospermidine, respectively. The DNA G + C content of strain HS916^T was 34.9 mol%. Based on polyphasic analyses, strain HS916^T represents a novel species belonging to the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium parvum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HS916T (= KACC 19448^T = JCM 32368^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavisolibacter carri</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from an automotive air-conditioning system

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and yellow bacterium, designated TX0651^T, was isolated from an automotive air-conditioning system. Phylogenetically, the strain groups with the members of the genus Flavisolibacter and exhibits high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Flavisolibacter ginsenosidimutans Gsoil 636^T (97.4%), Flavisolibacter ginsengiterrae Gsoil 492^T (96.3%) and Flavisolibacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 643^T (96.2%). DNA–DNA relatedness between TX0651^T and F. ginsenosidimutans KCTC 22818^T and F. ginsengiterrae KCTC 12656^T were determined to be less than 40%. The low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness identifies the strain TX0651^T as a novel species in the genus Flavisolibacter. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as iso-C_15:0, summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c), iso-C_15:1 G and iso-C_17:0 3-OH. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as MK-7. The polar lipids were found to be comprised of phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified amino-glycophospholipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified amino lipid and unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of the strain was determined to be 31.2 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain TX0651^T should be classified in a novel species in the genus Flavisolibacter, for which the name Flavisolibacter carri sp. nov. (=?KACC 19014^T?=?KCTC 52836^T?=?NBRC 111784^T) is proposed.     

Alishewanella solinquinati sp. nov., Isolated from Soil Contaminated with Textile Dyes

A novel Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterial strain, KMK6^T, was isolated from soil contaminated with textile dyes from an industrial estate located at Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, India, and its taxonomical position was established by using a polyphasic approach. The major cellular fatty acids included C_17:1ω8c, summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c and/or iso-C_15:0 2-OH), C_17:0, C_16:0, and C_18:1ω7c. The DNA G+C content of strain KMK6^T was 48.8 mol %. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed its placement in the genus Alishewanella, and exhibited sequence similarity levels of below 97 % to the type strains of validly published Alishewanella species. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic evidence, strains KMK6^T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Alishewanella, for which we propose that strain KMK6^T (=NCIM 5295^T =BCRC 17848^T) is assigned to a novel species, Alishewanella solinquinati sp. nov.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirosoma metallicus</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from an automobile air conditioning system

A Gram-stain-negative and orangish yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated PR1014K^T, was isolated from an automobile evaporator core collected in Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain PR1014K^T was related with the members of the genus Spirosoma (94.7–90.2%) and closely related with Spirosoma lacussanchae CPCC 100624^T (94.7%), Spirosoma knui 15J8-12^T (94.3%), and Spirosoma soli MIMBbqt12^T (93.3%). The strain grew at 15–40°C (optimum, 25°C), pH 6.5–7.0 (optimum, 6.5) and 0–1% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%). The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c), C_16:0, iso-C_15:0, C_16:1 ω5c, and iso-C_17:0 3-OH. The major menaquinone was MK-7. The polar lipid profile of the strain indicated that the presence of one phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, two unidentified aminophospholipids, and three unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 47.4 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain PR1014K^T represents a novel species in the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma metallicus sp. nov. (=KACC 17940^T =NBRC 110792^T) is proposed.     

Pedobacter soyangensis sp. nov., isolated from Lake Soyang in Korea

Strain HME6451^T was isolated from Lake Soyang in Korea. Phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain HME6451^T formed a lineage within the genus Pedobacter. The strain HME6451^T was closely related to Pedobacter daechungensis (95.4% sequence similarity), Pedobacter lentus (94.4%), and Pedobacter glucosidilyticus (93.8%). And strain HME6451^T was a Gram-staining-negative, short rod-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterium. The major fatty acids were iso-C_15:0 (41.2%), summed feature 3 (comprising C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c; 23.1%), and iso-C_17:0-3OH (10.1%). The polar lipids of HME6451^T were consisted of one phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 36.0 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain HME6451^T represent a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter soyangensis sp. nov., is proposed the type strain HME6451^T (=KCTC 23467^T =CECT 7865^T).     

Geodermatophilus tzadiensis sp. nov., a UV radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from sand of the Saharan desert

Three novel Gram-positive, aerobic, actinobacterial strains, CF5/2^T, CF5/1 and CF7/1, were isolated in 2007 during environmental screening of arid desert soil in the Sahara desert, Chad. Results from riboprinting, MALDI-TOF protein spectra and 16S rRNA sequence analysis confirmed that all three strains belonged to the same species. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences with the strains’ closest relatives indicated that they represented a distinct species. The three novel strains also shared a number of physiological and biochemical characteristics distinct from previously named Geodermatophilus species. The novel strains’ peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid; their main phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and a small amount of phosphatidylglycerol; MK-9(H₄) was the dominant menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids were the branched-chain saturated acids iso-C_16:0 and iso-C_15:0. Galactose was detected as diagnostic sugar. Based on these chemotaxonomic results, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization between strain CF5/2^T and the type strains of Geodermatophilus saharensis, Geodermatophilus arenarius, Geodermatophilus nigrescens, Geodermatophilus telluris and Geodermatophilus siccatus, the isolates CF5/2^T, CF5/1 and CF7/1 are proposed to represent a novel species, Geodermatophilus tzadiensis, with type strain CF5/2^T = DSM 45416 = MTCC 11411 and two reference strains, CF5/1 (DSM 45415) and CF7/1 (DSM 45420).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pedobacter aquicola</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from freshwater

A non-motile, pink-pigmented bacterial strain designated IMCC25679^T, was isolated from freshwater Lake Chungju of Korea. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain IMCC25679^T formed a lineage within the genus Pedobacter. The strain IMCC25679^T was closely related to Pedobacter daechungensis Dae 13^T (96.4% sequence similarity), Pedobacter rivuli HME8457^T (95.3%) and Pedobacter lentus DS-40^T (94.3%). The major fatty acids of IMCC- 25679^T were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0 and summed feature 3 (comprising C_16:1ω6c and/or C_16:1ω7c). The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), an unidentified sphingolipid (SL), an unidentified aminolipid (AL) and three unidentified polar lipids (PL). The DNA G + C content of IMCC25679^T was 32.2 mol%. Based on the evidence presented in this study, the strain IMCC25679^T represents a novel species within the genus Pedobacter, with the proposed name Pedobacter aquicola, sp. nov. The type strain is IMCC25679^T (= KACC 19486^T = NBRC113131^T).     

Mucilaginibacter calamicampi sp. nov., a member of the family Sphingobacteriaceae isolated from soil at a field of reeds

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated WR-R1Y^T, was isolated from soil at a field of reeds in South Korea. Strain WR-R1Y^T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the absence of NaCl. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain WR-R1Y^T fell within the clade comprising Mucilaginibacter species, coherently clustering with the type strain of Mucilaginibacter composti, with which it exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of 97.6 %. Sequence similarities to the type strains of the other Mucilaginibacter species and the other species used in the phylogenetic analysis were 93.1–96.9 % and <91.1 %, respectively. Strain WR-R1Y^T contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω6c and/or C_16:1 ω7c), C_16:0 and iso-C_17:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified aminophospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain WR-R1Y^T was 43.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with M. composti KACC 14956^T was 17 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain WR-R1Y^T is separate from other Mucilaginibacter species. On the basis of the data presented, strain WR-R1Y^T represents a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter, for which the name Mucilaginibacter calamicampi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WR-R1Y^T (= KCTC 32214^T = CCUG 63418^T).     

Pantoea endophytica sp. nov., novel endophytic bacteria isolated from maize planting in different geographic regions of northern China

Four endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from root, stem and leaf of maize planted in different regions of northern China. The four strains possessed almost identical 16S rRNA gene sequences. However, REP-PCR fingerprint patterns discriminated that they were not from one clonal origin. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values among them were higher than 95%, suggesting they all belong to one species. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, the four strains were clustered together with Pantoea rodasii LMG 26273^T and Pantoea rwandensis LMG 26275^T, but on a separate branch. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) indicated that the four strains form a novel Pantoea species. Authenticity of the novel species was confirmed by ANI comparisons between strain 596^T and its closest relatives, since obtained values were considerably below the proposed thresholds for the species delineation. The genome size of 596^T was 5.1Mbp, comprising 4896 predicted genes with DNA G + C content of 57.8 mol%. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) and the polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamin, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified aminophospholipid and unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids of strain 596^T were C_16:0, summed feature 2 (C_12:0 aldehyde), summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c and/or C_16:1ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c). Based on phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, the four isolates are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pantoea, for which the name Pantoea endophytica sp. nov., is proposed, with 596^T (= DSM 100,785^T = CGMCC 1.15280^T) as type strain.