Li-Sen Young

Siansivirga zeaxanthinifaciens gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel zeaxanthin-producing member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from coastal seawater of Taiwan

A strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium (strain CC-SAMT-1(T)) showing gliding motility was isolated from coastal seawater of China Sea, Taiwan. Strain CC-SAMT-1(T) synthesizes all-trans-zeaxanthin (6.5 ± 0.5 mg g(-1) dry biomass) as a predominant xanthophyll carotenoid. As determined by 16S rRNA gene analysis, strain CC-SAMT-1(T) shared very high sequence similarity to the members of the genera Mariniflexile (96.1-95.3%) and Gaetbulibacter (96.0-95.9%); however, it formed a distinct phyletic lineage distantly associated with Mariniflexile species. Polar lipid profile constitutes phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminolipids, four unidentified lipids, and an unidentified glycolipid. Strain CC-SAMT-1(T) contains excessive unidentified aminolipid lipid (AL2-4) and glycolipid contents, and therefore clearly distinct from Mariniflexile species. Major fatty acids (> 5% of total fatty acids) were iso-C(15:0) (14.8%), iso-C(17:0) 3-OH (11.8%), iso-C(15:1) G (10.6%), anteiso-C(15:0) (9.7%), C(16:0) (8.1%), iso-C(16:0) 3-OH (7.9%), iso-C(15:0) 3-OH (7.5%), and summed feature 3 (containing C(16:1) ω6c and/or C(16:1) ω7c) (7.5%). Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was major respiratory quinone. DNA G+C content was 33.7 mol%. Based on polyphasic taxonomy, strain CC-SAMT-1(T) represents a novel genus and species in the family Flavobacteriaceae for which the name Siansivirga zeaxanthinifaciens gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-SAMT-1(T) (= BCRC 80315(T) = JCM 17682(T)).

Phosphate-solubilizing soil yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii CC1 improves maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and minimizes requisite chemical fertilization

AimPhosphate-solubilizing yeasts have been under-exploited in eco-friendly maize cultivation. In this regard, soil yeasts Meyerozyma guilliermondii CC1, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CC2 and M. caribbica CC3 were investigated for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities.MethodsSoil yeasts were isolated and characterized. Maize (Zea mays L. cv. Tainong No.1) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. cv. Pekinensis) were used for seed bioassay. Growth-promoting effects of yeasts under greenhouse conditions were evaluated using maize and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cvs. Capitata and Taiwan sword leaf). Ultimately, M. guilliermondii CC1 was tested on field-grown maize; treatments included full-dose chemical fertilizers (CF), yeast (CC1), half-dose chemical fertilizers (½CF), CC1 + ½CF and control. Nutrient uptake, growth, and yield of maize and rhizospheric soil microbes were estimated.ResultsStrain M. guilliermondii CC1 exhibited better seed vigor index in maize and Chinese cabbage. CC1 + ½CF significantly improved the dry-weights, and nutrient uptakes of maize and sword leaf lettuce under greenhouse conditions. In field, CC1 + ½CF application exerted a pronounced effect on growth of maize, cob yield, nutrient-uptake and rhizospheric soil microbial counts.ConclusionOur results validated superior biochemical potency and PGP traits of M. guilliermondii CC1 that reduced requisite chemical fertilizer application without affecting the optimal productivity in maize.

Azospirillum formosense sp. nov., a diazotroph from agricultural soil

A gram-negative, spiral or rod-shaped, non-spore-forming diazotrophic bacterium, designated CC-Nfb-7(T), was isolated from agricultural soil in Yunlin County, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain CC-Nfb-7(T) was most closely related to Azospirillum brasilense DSM 1690(T) (97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Azospirillum rugosum IMMIB AFH-6(T) (96.8 %) and Azospirillum oryzae JCM 21588(T) (96.6 %); <96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was found with all other members of the genus Azospirillum. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain CC-Nfb-7(T) and A. brasilense DSM 1690(T), A. rugosum DSM 19657(T) and A. oryzae JCM 21588(T) was 38.9, 30.1 and 31.8 %, respectively. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (consisting of C(18 : 1)ω7c and/or C(18 : 1)ω6c), summed feature 3 (consisting of C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or C(16 : 1)ω6c), summed feature 2 (consisting of C(14 : 0) 3-OH and/or iso-C(16 : 1) I), C(16 : 0), C(18 : 0) 2-OH and C(16 : 0) 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted mainly of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and one unidentified phospholipid. Furthermore, moderate amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and one unidentified aminophospholipid were also detected. Strain CC-Nfb-7(T) could be distinguished from members of phylogenetically related species by differences in phenotypic properties. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain CC-Nfb-7(T) represents a novel species within the genus Azospirillum, for which we propose the name Azospirillum formosense sp. nov. The type strain is CC-Nfb-7(T) ( = BCRC 80273(T) = JCM 17639(T) = DSM 24137(T)).

Pseudomonas guguanensis sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from a hot spring

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium (designated strain CC-G9A(T)), motile by a polar-flagellum, was isolated from a hot spring water sample in Taiwan. Strain CC-G9A(T) could grow at 20-42 °C, pH 6.0-10.0 and tolerate up to 7% (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain CC-G9A(T) showed pairwise sequence similarity to Pseudomonas mendocina LMG 1223(T) (97.7%), Pseudomonas alcaligenes ATCC 14909(T) (97.8 %), Pseudomonas alcaliphila DSM 17744(T) (97.8 %), Pseudomonas toyotomiensis JCM 15604(T) (97.6 %), Pseudomonas oleovorans subsp. lubricantis DSM 21016(T) (97.6 %) and Pseudomonas argentinensis BCRC 17807(T) (97.5 %), and lower sequence similarity to other species of the genus Pseudomonas. According to DNA-DNA association analysis, the relatedness of strain CC-G9A(T) to P. mendocina BCRC 10458(T), P. alcaliphila DSM 17744(T), P. alcaligenes BCRC 11893(T), P. oleovorans subsp. lubricantis DSM 21016(T), P. argentinensis BCRC 17807(T) and P. oleovorans subsp. oleovorans BCRC 11902 was 55.1±3.1, 13.7±1.5, 14.1±1.8, 58.5±1.1, 28.9±2.0 and 28.6±1.8 %, respectively. The evolutionary trees reconstructed based on 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoB gene sequences revealed varying phylogenetic neighbourhoods of strain CC-G9A(T) with regard to the most closely related type strains. The predominant quinone system was ubiquinone (Q-9) and the DNA G+C content was 64.3±1.3 mol%. The major fatty acids were C10 : 0 3-OH, C12 : 0, C12 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0 and summed features 3 and 8 consisting of C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, respectively. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. According to distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain CC-G9A(T) is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Pseudomonas for which the name Pseudomonas guguanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-G9A(T) ( = BCRC 80438(T) = JCM 18416(T)).

Cohnella formosensis sp. nov., a xylanolytic bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of Medicago sativa L.

A Gram-positive, spore-forming, aerobic, rod-shaped, xylanolytic bacterium designated strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) was isolated from the rhizosphere of Medicago sativa L. in Taiwan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) was affiliated to the genus Cohnella. Strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) shared 95.3 % pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strain of the type species of the genus Cohnella (Cohnella thermotolerans DSM 17683(T)) besides showing a similarity of 97.4-93.6 % with other recognized species of the genus Cohnella. The DNA-DNA hybridization value between CC-Alfalfa-35(T) and Cohnella thailandensis KCTC 22296(T) was 37.7 % ± 1.7 % (reciprocal value, 55.7 % ± 3.0 %). Predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile constituted diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified aminophospholipids. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 58.3 mol%. Strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the major diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Based on the polar lipid and fatty acid profiles, which were in line with those of C. thermotolerans DSM 17683(T), coupled with additional distinguishing genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella formosensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-Alfalfa-35(T) ( = JCM 18405(T) = BCRC 80428(T)).

Aureimonas ferruginea sp. nov. and Aureimonas rubiginis sp. nov., two siderophore-producing bacteria isolated from rusty iron plates

Two novel siderophore-producing strains designated CC-CFT023(T) and CC-CFT034(T), isolated from a rusty iron plate, are characterized in this study. Cells of both strains were catalase- and oxidase-positive. Strain CC-CFT023(T) showed a high pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Aureimonas altamirensis LMG 23375(T) (96.0 %), whereas, strain CC-CFT034(T) shared a maximum similarity to Aureimonas ureilytica DSM 18598(T) (95.8 %). The predominant quinone system was ubiquinone (Q-10) and the DNA G+C contents of CC-CFT023(T) and CC-CFT034(T) were 69.5 mol% and 67.7 mol%, respectively. The major fatty acids of these strains were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C18 : 1 2-OH and summed features 3 and 8, consisting of C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, respectively. Polar lipid profiles of both of these isolates include diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and most importantly sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG), which is one of the typical molecular features reported to delineate the members of the genus Aureimonas from their closest relatives, species of the genus Aurantimonas. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strains CC-CFT023(T) and CC-CFT034(T) represent two novel species within the genus Aureimonas, for which the names Aureimonas ferruginea sp. nov. (type strain CC-CFT023(T) = BCRC 80439(T) = JCM 18444(T)) and Aureimonas rubiginis sp. nov. (type strain CC-CFT034(T) = BCRC 80440(T) = JCM 18445(T)) are proposed.

Impacts of industrial waste resources on maize (Zea mays L.) growth, yield, nutrients uptake and soil properties.

Discharging untreated highly acidic (pH<4.0), organic and nutrients rich monosodium glutamate wastewater (MW), and highly alkaline (pH>10.0) paper-mill wastewater (PW) causes environmental pollution. When acidity of MW neutralized (pH 6.5±0.1) with PW and lime (treatments represented as MW+PW and MW+Lime), then MW may be utilized as a potential source of nutrients and organic carbon for sustainable food production. Objectives of this study were to compare the effects of PW and lime neutralized MW and chemical fertilizers on maize (Zea mays L. cv. Snow Jean) plant growth, yield, nutrients uptake, soil organic matter and humic substances. The field experiment was carried out on maize using MW at 6000 L ha(-1). Impacts of the MW application on maize crop and soil properties were evaluated at different stages. At harvest, plant height, and plant N and K uptake were higher in MW treatment. Leaf area index at 60 days after sowing, plant dry matter accumulation at harvest, and kernels ear(-1) and 100-kernel weight were higher in MW+Lime treatment. Kernel N, P, K, Mn, Fe and Zn, and plant Zn uptake were highest in MW+Lime. Plant Fe uptake, and soil organic matter and humic substances were highest in MW+PW. The MW+PW and MW+Lime treatments exhibited comparable results with chemically fertilized treatment. The MW acidity neutralized with lime showed positive impacts on growth, yield and nutrients uptake; nevertheless, when MW pH neutralized with PW has an additional benefit on increase in soil organic matter and humic substances.

Chiayiivirga flava gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium of the family Xanthomonadaceae isolated from an agricultural soil, and emended description of the genus Dokdonella

A novel Gram-reaction-negative, yellow-pigmented, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium designated strain CC-YHH031(T) was isolated from an agricultural soil collected at Chiayi County, Taiwan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CC-YHH031(T) formed a discrete monophyletic lineage in the family Xanthomonadaceae, sharing high pairwise sequence similarity of 93.5-95.2 and 94.8% with species of the genus Dokdonella (94.9% similarity to the type strain of the type species) and Aquimonas voraii GPTSA 20(T), respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain CC-YHH031(T) was 68.6 ± 0.7 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. Spermidine was the principal polyamine, with minor amounts of putrescine. Major fatty acids (>5% of total fatty acids) were iso-C(16:00, iso-C(15:0), C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c (summed feature 3), iso-C(17:1)ω9c, iso-C(14:0), iso-C(11:0) and iso-C(11:0) 3-OH. The polar lipid profile of strain CC-YHH031(T) included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminophospholipids (APL1-2) and four unidentified phospholipids (PL1-4). Strain CC-YHH031(T) was distinguished particularly from the type species of the genus Dokdonella (Dokdonella koreensis) by the presence of major amounts of iso-C(14:0) and summed feature 3 and minor amounts of iso-C(17:0) and by the complete absence of anteiso-C(17:0), the presence of PL1-3 and APL1-2, the absence of APL3 and the presence of putrescine in the former. On the basis of distinguishing genotypic and phenotypic evidence, strain CC-YHH031(T) is proposed to represent a novel genus and species within the family Xanthomonadaceae, for which the name Chiayiivirga flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Chiayiivirga flava is CC-YHH031(T) ( =BCRC 80273(T) =DSM 24163(T)).

Pseudomonas matsuisoli sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and polar-flagellated bacterium, designated strain CC-MHH0089(T), was isolated from a soil sample taken on Matsu Island (Taiwan). Strain CC-MHH0089(T) grew at 15-30 °C and pH 5.0-10.0 and tolerated ≤8 % (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed high pairwise sequence similarity to Pseudomonas azotifigens 6H33b(T) (97.3 %) and Pseudomonas balearica SP1402(T) (96.7 %) and lower sequence similarity to other strains (<96.0 %). In DNA-DNA reassociation experiments, the relatedness of strain CC-MHH0089(T) to P. azotifigens JCM 12708(T) was 38.3 % (reciprocal value 19.5 %). Evolutionary trees reconstructed on the basis of 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoB gene sequences revealed a varying phylogenetic neighbourhood of strain CC-MHH0089(T) with regard to the most closely related type strains. The predominant quinone system was ubiquinone 9 (Q-9) and the DNA G+C content was 63.6 mol%. The major fatty acids were C12 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and summed features 2 (C14 : 0 3-OH/iso-C16 : 1 I), 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c) and 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. According to its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain CC-MHH0089(T) is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Pseudomonas, for which the name Pseudomonas matsuisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-MHH0089(T) ( = BCRC 80771(T) = JCM 30078(T)).

Actibacterium ureilyticum sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

A polyphasic approach was used to characterize a novel marine bacterial strain, designated LS-811T, isolated from seawater of the South China Sea (Taiwan). Cells of strain LS-811Twere Gram-staining negative, aerobic and rod-shaped with polar flagella. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain LS-811T showed highest sequence similarity to Actibacterium mucosum (96.5 %) and Actibacterium atlanticum (95.6 %), and lower sequence similarity (<96.0 %) to members of all other related genera. Strain LS-811Twas able to grow at 15-40 °C and pH 5.0-9.0. The quinone system was ubiquinone (Q-10), and the DNA G+C content was 60.1 mol%. The major fatty acids (>5 %) found in strain LS-811T were C18 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c. The major polar lipid profile consisted of glycolipids, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified aminolipid. Based on the distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic traits together with results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain LS-811T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Actibacterium, for which the name Actibacterium ureilyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LS-811T (=BCRC 80823T=JCM 30681T).