<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nocardioides ginsengisegetis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (Gsoil 485^T) was isolated from the soil of a ginseng field located in Pocheon province in South Korea. This bacterium was characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position by using the polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain Gsoil 485^T was shown to belong to the family Nocardioidaceae and related to Nocardioides koreensis (96.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Nocardioides basaltis (96.7%), Nocardioides salarius (96.7%), and Nocardioides sediminis (96.5%). The sequence similarity with other species that had validly published names within the genus Nocardioides was less than 96.4%. Strain Gsoil 485^T was characterized chemotaxonomically as having LL-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in a cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H₄) as the predominant menaquinone, and iso-C_16:0, C_18:1 ω9c as the major fatty acids. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 71.6 mol%. The chemotaxonomic properties and phenotypic characteristics supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 485^T to the genus Nocardioides. The results of both physiological and biochemical tests allowed for genotypic differentiation of strain Gsoil 485^T from the recognized Nocardioides species. Therefore, strain Gsoil 485^T is considered to represent the novel species, for which the name Nocardioides ginsengisegetis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Gsoil 485^T (KACC 14269^T =KCTC 19469^T =DSM 21349^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lysobacter panacihumi</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from ginseng cultivated soil

A Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic, catalase-, and oxidasepositive bacterial strain, designated DCY117^T, was isolated from ginseng cultivated soil in Gochang-gun, Republic of Korea, and was characterized taxonomically using a multifaceted approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain DCY117^T showed highest similarity to Lysobacter ruishenii CTN-1^T (95.3%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that closely related relatives of strain DCY117^T were L. aestuarii S2-C^T (95.1%), L. daejeonensis GH1-9^T (95.0%), and L. caeni BUT-8^T (94.9%). Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the major polar lipids of strain DCY117^T. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The major cellular fatty acids of strain DCY117^T were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C_17:1ω9c and/or 10-methyl-C_16:0). Genomic DNA G + C content was 61.8 mol%. On the basis of our findings, strain DCY117^T is a novel species in the genus Lysobacter. We propose the name Lysobacter panacihumi sp. nov., and the type strain is DCY117^T (= KCTC 62019^T = JCM 32168^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Terrabacter ginsengisoli</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from ginseng cultivating soil

A Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, nonmotile, yellowish, coccus-rod-shaped bacterium (designated Gsoil 653^T) isolated from ginseng cultivating soil was characterized using a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. The strain Gsoil 653^T exhibited optimal growth at pH 7.0 on R2A agar medium at 30°C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, indicated that Gsoil 653^T belongs to the genus Terrabacter of the family Humibacillus, and was closely related to Terrabacter tumescens DSM 20308^T (98.9%), Terrabacter carboxydivorans PY2^T (98.9%), Terrabacter terrigena ON10^T (98.8%), Terrabacter terrae PPLB^T (98.6%), and Terrabacter lapilli LR-26^T (98.6%). The DNA G + C content was 70.5 mol%. The major quinone was MK-8(H₄). The primary polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, iso-C_14:0, and anteiso-C_15:0, as in the case of genus Terrabacter, thereby supporting the categorization of strain Gsoil 653^T. However, the DNA-DNA relatedness between Gsoil 653^T and closely related strains of Terrabacter species was low at less than 31%. Moreover, strain Gsoil 653^T could be both genotypically and phenotypically distinguished from the recognized species of the genus Terrabacter. This isolate, therefore, represents a novel species, for which the name Terrabacter ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain Gsoil 653^T (= KACC 19444^T = LMG 30325^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mucilaginibacter hankyongensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil of ginseng field Baekdu Mountain

A Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic, and rod-shaped bacterial strain designated as BR5-28^T was isolated from the soil of a ginseng field at Baekdu Mountain Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain BR5-28^T grew at 10–42°C (optimum temperature, 30°C) and pH 5.5–8.5 (optimum pH, 7.0) on R2A agar medium without additional NaCl supplementation. Strain BR5- 28T exhibited β-glucosidase activity, which was responsible for its ability to transform the ginsenosides Rb1 and Rd (the two dominant active components of ginseng) to compound-K. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, the novel strain showed a new branch within the genus Mucilaginibacter of the family Sphingobacteriaceae, and formed clusters with Mucilaginibacter frigoritolerans FT22^T (95.8%) and Mucilaginibacter gotjawali SA3-7^T (95.7%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 45.1%. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising C_16:1 ω6c and/or C_16:1 ω7c), iso-C_15:0 and anteiso-C_15:0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Strain BR5-28^T was differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from the recognized species of the genus Mucilaginibacter. The isolate therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Mucilaginibacter hankyongensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain BR5-28^T (=KCTC 22274^T =DSM 21151^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Panacagrimonas perspica</Emphasis> gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammaproteobacteria</Emphasis> isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A taxonomic study was carried out on Gsoil 142^T, a bacterial strain isolated from the soil collected in a ginseng field in Pocheon province, South Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed a clear affiliation of this bacterium to the Gammaproteobacteria, and it was most closely related to Hydrocarboniphaga effusa ATCC BAA 332^T (94.4%, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Nevskia ramosa DSM 11499^T (94.1%) and Alkanibacter difficilis MN154.3^T (92.0%). Strain Gsoil 142^T was a Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 69.9% and predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. Major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or ω6c, 36.3%), summed feature 3 (iso-C_15:0 2-OH and/or C_16:1 ω7c, 20.6%) and C_16:0 (17.4%). The major polar lipids detected in strain Gsoil 142^T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and an unknown glycolipid. On the basis of polyphasic evidence, it is proposed that strain Gsoil 142^T should be placed in a novel genus and species, for which the name Panacagrimonas perspica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 142^T (= KCTC 12982^T = LMG 23239^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenobacter jeollabukensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterial strain, designated 1-3-3-8^T, was isolated from soil and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 1-3-3-8^T belongs to the family Cytophagaceae of phylum Bacteroidetes and is most closely related to Hymenobacter paludis KBP-30^T (96.8% similarity), Hymenobacter ocellatus Myx2105^T (96.8%), Hymenobacter coalescens WW84^T (95.6%), and Hymenobacter deserti ZLB-3^T (95.4%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA of strain 1-3-3-8^T was 63.6 mol%. The isolate contained C_15:0 iso (28.4%), summed feature 4 (C_17:1 anteiso B/C_17:1 iso I; 18.9%), and C_15:0 anteiso (17.6%) as major fatty acids, MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and sym-homospermidine as the predominant polyamine. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid. The phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain 1-3-3-8^T with the genus Hymenobacter. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain 1-3-3-8^T and H. paludis KCTC 32237^T and H. ocellatus DSM 11117^T were 24.5 and 27.4% respectively, clearly showing that the isolate is not related to them at the species level. Overall, the novel strain could be differentiated from its phylogenetic neighbors on the basis of several phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain 1-3-3-8^T represents a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter jeollabukensis sp. nov. has been proposed. The type strain is 1-3-3-8^T (= KCTC 52741^T = JCM 32192^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenobacter terrigena</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rodshaped, aerobic bacterial strain, designated S1-2-2-5^T, was isolated from the Jeollabuk-do province, Republic of Korea, and was characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain S1-2-2-5^T belonged to the family Cytophagaceae in phylum Bacteroidetes, and was most closely related to Hymenobacter terrae DG7A^T (98.2%), Hymenobacter rubidus DG7B^T (98.0%), Hymenobacter soli PB17^T (97.7%), Hymenobacter daeguensis 16F3Y-2^T (97.2%) and Hymenobacter saemangeumensis GSR0100^T (97.0%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA of strain S1-2-2-5^T was 59.4 mol%. The detection of menaquinone MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, a fatty acid profile with summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c/C_16:1ω6c; 32.0%), C_15:0 iso (19.0%), and C_15:0 anteiso (15.0%) as the major components, and a polar lipid profile with phosphatidylethanolamine as the major component supported the affiliation of strain S1-2-2-5^T to the genus Hymenobacter. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain S1-2-2-5^T and H. terrae KCTC 32554^T, H. rubidus KCTC 32553^T, H. soli KCTC 12607^T, H. daeguensis KCTC 52537^T, and H. saemangeumensis KACC 16452^T were 49.5, 48.2, 34.1, 28.1, and 31.8% respectively, clearly showing that the isolate is not related to them at the species level. Strain S1-2-2-5^T could be clearly differentiated from its closest neighbors on the basis of its phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain S1-2-2-5^T represents a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter terrigena sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S1-2-2-5^T (= KCTC 52737^T = JCM 32195^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirosoma migulaei</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated 15J9-8^T, was isolated from soil on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The isolate was able to grow between 10 and 30°C, pH 6.5–8.5, and in presence of 0–1% (w/v) NaCl. The results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain 15J9-8^T represented a member of the family Cytophagaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes, and was most closely related to Spirosoma aerophilum 5516J-17^T (96.1% similarity), Spirosoma pulveris JSH5-14^T (95.6%), and Spirosoma linguale DSM 74^T (95.2%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA of the isolate was 47.0 mol%. Strain 15J9-8^T contained summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c), C_16:1 ω5c, and iso-C_15:0 as the major fatty acids, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminophospholipid as the main polar lipids, and menaquinone MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone. On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic properties, and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 15J9-8^T should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma migulaei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15J9-8^T (=KCTC 52028^T =JCM 31996^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirosoma lituiforme</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, curved rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated S1-2-4^T, was isolated from soil in Jeollabuk-do province, Republic of Korea, and was characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain S1-2-4^T was a member of the family Cytophagaceae and most closely related to ‘Spirosoma radiotolerans’ DG5A (97.2%), Spirosoma fluviale MSd3^T (96.4%), and Spirosoma linguale DSM 74^T (96.3%). The genomic DNA G + C content of strain S1-2-4^T was 49.7 mol%. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c/C_16:1ω6c), C_16:1ω5c, and C_16:0, and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. MK-7 was the predominant respiratory quinone. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain S1-2-4^T with the genus Spirosoma. DNA-DNA hybridization between strain S1-2-4^T and ‘Spirosoma radiotolerans’ showed relatively low DNA-DNA relatedness (31%). Strain S1-2-4^T could be distinguished from its closest phylogenetic neighbors based on its phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain S1-2-4^T represents a novel member of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma lituiforme sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S1-2-4^T (= KCTC 52724^T = JCM 32128^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acidovorax monticola</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil

A novel strain K-4-16^T was isolated from forest soil of Namsan Mountain, Seoul, South Korea, and was taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach. Strain K-4-16^T was observed to be a Gram-staining negative, grayish white-coloured, motile with peritrichous flagella, and rod shaped bacterium. It was able to grow at 15–45 °C, at pH 4.5–10.5, and at 0–4% (w/v) NaCl concentration. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain K-4-16^T belongs to the genus Acidovorax and is closely related to Acidovorax anthurii CFBP 3232^T (98.3% sequence identity), Acidovorax konjaci K2^T (97.9% sequence identity), Acidovorax valerianellae CFBP 4730^T (97.8% sequence identity), and Acidovorax caeni R-24608^T (97.8% sequence identity). The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant fatty acids of strain K-4-16^T were summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c and/or C_16:1ω6c), C_16:0, and summed feature 8 (C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c). The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 64.7 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain K-4-16^T and its reference strains were below the threshold value of 70%. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its close phylogenetic neighbors. Thus, strain K-4-16^T represents a novel species of the genus Acidovorax, for which the name Acidovorax monticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K-4-16^T (=?KEMB 9005-570^T?=?KACC 19171^T?=?NBRC 113141^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphingomonas humi</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, small, orange, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from soil in South Korea and characterized to determine its taxonomic position. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence examination revealed that strain PB323^T belongs to the family Sphingomonadaceae. The highest degree of sequence similarity was found with Sphingomonas kaistensis PB56^T (98.9%), followed by Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens TDMA-17^T (98.3%). Chemotaxonomic characteristics (the G+C content of the genomic DNA 69.0 mol%, Q-10 quinone system, C_18:1 ω7c/ω9t/ω12t, C_16:1 ω7c/C_15:0 iso 2OH, C_17:1 ω6c, and C16:0 as the major fatty acids) corroborated assignment of strain PB323^T to the genus Sphingomonas. Results of physiological and biochemical tests clearly demonstrate that strain PB323^T represents a distinct species and support its affiliation with the genus Sphingomonas. Based on these data, PB323^T (=KCTC 12341^T =JCM 16603T =KEMB 9004-003^T) should be classified as a type strain of a novel species, for which the name Sphingomonas humi sp. nov. is proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pedobacter panacis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> soil

A novel strain, DCY108^T was isolated from soil of a Panax ginseng field, Yeoncheon province (38°04′N 126°57′E), Republic of Korea. Strain DCY108^T is Gram-negative, non-motile, non-flagellate, rod-shaped, and aerobic. The bacterium grows optimally at 25–30 °C, pH 6.5–7.0 and 1 % NaCl. Phylogenetically, strain DCY108^T is closely related to Pedobacter jejuensis JCM 18824^T, Pedobacter aquatilis JCM 13454^T, Pedobacter kyungheensis LMG 26577^T and the type strain of the genus Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366^T. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DCY108^T and its close phylogenetic neighbors were below 30.0 %. The DNA G+C content of strain DCY108^T was determined to be 45.1 mol%. The predominant quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified aminolipids AL1, AL13 and AL17. Iso-C_15:00, iso-C_17:03OH and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c) were identified as the major fatty acids present in strain DCY108^T. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed strain DCY108^T to be differentiated phenotypically from other recognized species belonging to the genus Pedobacter. Therefore, it is suggested that the newly isolated organism represents a novel species, for which the name Pedobacter panacis sp. nov is proposed with the type strain designated as DCY108^T (=CCTCCAB 2015196^T = KCTC 42748^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirosoma daeguensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from beach soil

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated 15J9-6^T, was isolated from beach soil on Jeju Island, South Korea. Strain 15J9-6^T, grew at 10–30°C (optimum growth at 25°C) and pH 7–8 (optimum growth at pH 7) on R2A, NA, and TSA agar. Phylogenetically, the strain was closely related to members of the genus Spirosoma (92.3–90.1% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities) and showed highest sequence similarity to Spirosoma panaciterrae DSM 21099^T (92.3%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain 15J9-6^T was 45.7 mol%. The strain contained phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids, an unidentified phospholipid, and an unidentified lipid as the major polar lipids; menaquinone MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω6c/C_16:1 ω7c; 30.1%), C_16:1 ω5c (23.1%), iso C_15:0 (13.3%), and C_16:0 (8.4%) as the major fatty acids which supported the affiliation of strain 15J9-6^T to the genus Spirosoma. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 15J9-6^T from recognized Spirosoma species. On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 15J9-6^T represents a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma daeguensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15J9-6^T (=KCTC 52036^T =JCM 31995T)     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphingomonas hunanensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from forest soil

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).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acinetobacter soli</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from forest soil

A non-motile and rod shaped bacterium, designated strain B1(T), was isolated from forest soil at Mt. Baekwoon, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-negative, catalase-positive, and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were 9-octadecenoic acid (C(18:1) omega9c; 42%) and hexadecanoic acid (C(16:0); 25.9%) and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C(15:0) 2-OH and/or C(16:1) omega7c; 10.0%). The DNA G+C content was 44.1 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B1(T) formed a lineage within the genus Acinetobacter and was closely related to A. baylyi DSM 14961(T) (98.6% sequence similarity), followed by A. baumannii DSM 30007(T) (97.4%), A. calcoaceticus DSM 30006(T) (97.0%) and 3 genomic species (96.8 approximately 7.6%). Phenotypic characteristics, gyrB gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness data distinguished strain B1(T) from type strains of A. baylyi, A. baumannii, and A. calcoaceticus. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain B1(T) represents a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter, for which the name Acinetobacter soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1(T) (= KCTC 22184(T)= JCM 15062(T)).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium koreense</Emphasis> sp. nov., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium chungnamense</Emphasis> sp. nov., and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavobacterium cheonanense</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater reservoir

Taxonomic studies were performed on three strains isolated from Cheonho reservoir in Cheonan, Korea. The isolates were Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, catalase-positive, and oxidase-positive. Colonies on solid media were cream-yellow, smooth, shiny, and circular. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that these strains belong to the genus Flavobacterium. The strains shared 98.6–99.4% sequence similarity with each other and showed less than 97% similarity with members of the genus Flavobacterium with validly published names. The DNA-DNA hybridization results confirmed the separate genomic status of strains ARSA-42^T, ARSA-103^T, and ARSA-108^T. The isolates contained menaqui-none-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0 3-OH, iso-Ci_15:1 G, and iso-C_16:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the isolates were 31.4–33.2 mol%. According to the phenotypic and genotypic data, these organisms are classified as representative of three novel species in the genus Flavobacterium, and the name Flavobacterium koreense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-42^T =KCTC 23182^T =JCM 17066^T =KACC 14969^T), Flavobacterium chungnamense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-103^T =KCTC 23183^T =JCM 17068^T =KACC 14971^T), and Flavobacterium cheonanense sp. nov. (strain ARSA-108^T =KCTC 23184^T =JCM 17069^T =KACC 14972) are proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chitinophaga salinisoli</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from saline soil

A novel aerobic bacterium, designated strain LAM9153^T, was isolated from a saline soil sample collected from Lingxian County, Shandong Province, China. Cells of strain LAM9153^T were observed to be Gram-stain negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. The new isolate grew optimally at 30–35 °C, pH 7.0 and 0.5% of NaCl concentration (w/v). According to the phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain LAM9153^T shares high similarity with Chitinophaga terrae Gsoil 238^T (96.9%) and Chitinophaga niabensis JS 13-10^T (95.9%), forming a subcluster with C. terrae Gsoil 238^T, Chitinophaga cymbidii R156-2^T, C. niabensis JS 13-10^T and Chitinophaga soli Gsoil 219^T in the phylogenetic tree. The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) were identified as iso-C_15:0, iso-C_17:0 3-OH and summed features 3 (C_16:1 ω6c and/or C_16:1 ω7c). The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, aminophospholipid, three unidentified aminolipids and five unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 53.2 ± 1.6 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain LAM9153^T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga, for which the name Chitinophaga salinisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LAM9153^T (= ACCC 19960^T = JCM 30847^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenobacter sedentarius</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from a soil

A novel Gram-negative and red-pinkish bacterium designated DG5B^T was isolated from a dry soil. Cells were rods that were catalase- and oxidase-positive, and non-motile. The strain was found to grow at temperatures from 10 to 30°C (optimum 25°C) and pH 6.0–8.0, (optimum pH 7) on R2A broth. 16S rRNA gene sequence (1,452 bp) analysis of this strain identified it as a member of the genus Hymenobacter that belongs to the class Cytophagia. The highest gene sequence similarities were with Hymenobacter arizonensis OR362-8^T (98.3%), Hymenobacter humi DG31A^T (97.6%), and Hymenobacter glaciei VUG-A130^T (96.6%). Strain DG5B^T exhibited <70% DNA-DNA relatedness with H. arizonensis (34.7 ± 7.0%; reciprocally, 29.7 ± 1.2%) and H. humi (39.4 ± 4.3%; reciprocally, 39.5 ± 3.3%) as a different genomic species, and its genomic DNA G+C content was 59.8%. Strain DG5B^T had the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: the major fatty acids are iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_15:0, C_16:1ω5c, and summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c / C_16:1ω6c); polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), unknown aminophospholipid (APL), unknown glycolipids (GL), unknown phospholipids (PL), and unknown polar lipids (L); the major quinone is MK-7. The absorbance peak of pigment is at 481.0 nm. Strain DG5B^T showed low-level resistance to gamma-ray irradiation. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic properties indicated that isolate DG5B^T represents a novel species within the genus Hymenobacter for which the name Hymenobacter sedentarius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DG5B^T (=KCTC 32524^T =JCM 19636^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nonomuraea insulae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from forest soil

Strain H2R21^T, a novel actinobacterium, isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Heybeliada, Istanbul, Turkey, and a polyphasic approach was used for characterisation of the strain. Chemotaxonomic and morphological characterisation of strain H2R21^T indicated that it belongs to the genus Nonomuraea. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that the strain is closely related to Nonomuraea purpurea 1SM4-01^T (99.1%) and Nonomuraea solani CGMCC 4.7037^T (98.4%). DNA–DNA relatedness values were found to be lower than 70% between the isolate and its phylogenetic neighbours N. purpurea 1SM4-01^T, N. solani CGMCC 4.7037^T and Nonomuraea rhizophila YIM 67092^T. The whole cell hydrolysates of strain H2R21^T were found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and glucose, madurose, mannose and ribose as the cell sugars. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, dihydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, glycophosphatidylinositol, two glycophospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₆). The major fatty acids were found to be iso-C_16:0, iso-C_16:0 2OH and C_17:0 10-methyl. On the basis of DNA–DNA relatedness data and some phenotypic characteristics, it is evident that strain H2R21^T can be distinguished from the closely related species in the genus Nonomuraea. Thus, it is concluded that strain H2R21^T represents a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea, for which the name Nonomuraea insulae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H2R21^T (= DSM 102915^T = CGMCC 4.7338^T = KCTC 39769^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus kyonggiensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from soil of a lettuce field

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile, endospore-forming bacterial strain, designated NB22^T, was isolated from soil of a lettuce field in Kyonggi province, South Korea, and was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. This novel isolate grew optimally at 30–37°C and pH 8–9. It grew in the presence of 0–4% NaCl (optimum, 1–2%). Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain NB22^T was closely related to members of the genus Bacillus and fell within a coherent cluster comprising B. siralis 171544^T (98.1%) and B. korlensis ZLC-26^T (97.3%). The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to other Bacillus species with validly published names were less than 96.4%. Strain NB22^T had a genomic DNA G+C content of 36.3 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_15:0, C_14:0, and C_16:0. These chemotaxonomic results supported the affiliation of strain NB22^T to the genus Bacillus, and the low DNA-DNA relatedness values and distinguishing phenotypic characteristics allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain NB22^T from recognized Bacillus species. On the basis of the evidence presented, strain NB22^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus kyonggiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NB22^T (=KEMB 5401-267^T =JCM 17569^T).