Prevalence, diversity and applications potential of nodules endophytic bacteria: a systematic review

Legumes are renowned for their distinctive biological characteristic of forming symbiotic associations with soil bacteria, mostly belonging to the Rhizobiaceae familiy, leading to the establishment of symbiotic root nodules. Within these nodules, rhizobia play a pivotal role in converting atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-assimilable form. However, it has been discerned that root nodules of legumes are not exclusively inhabited by rhizobia; non-rhizobial endophytic bacteria also reside within them, yet their functions remain incompletely elucidated. This comprehensive review synthesizes available data, revealing that Bacillus and Pseudomonas are the most prevalent genera of nodule endophytic bacteria, succeeded by Paenibacillus, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Agrobacterium, and Microbacterium. To date, the bibliographic data available show that Glycine max followed by Vigna radiata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Lens culinaris are the main hosts for nodule endophytic bacteria. Clustering analysis consistently supports the prevalence of Bacillus and Pseudomonas as the most abundant nodule endophytic bacteria, alongside Paenibacillus, Agrobacterium, and Enterobacter. Although non-rhizobial populations within nodules do not induce nodule formation, their presence is associated with various plant growth-promoting properties (PGPs). These properties are known to mediate important mechanisms such as phytostimulation, biofertilization, biocontrol, and stress tolerance, emphasizing the multifaceted roles of nodule endophytes. Importantly, interactions between non-rhizobia and rhizobia within nodules may exert influence on their leguminous host plants. This is particularly shown by co-inoculation of legumes with both types of bacteria, in which synergistic effects on plant growth, yield, and nodulation are often measured. Moreover these effects are pronounced under both stress and non-stress conditions, surpassing the impact of single inoculations with rhizobia alone.

Comparative genomic analysis of Cohnella hashimotonis sp. nov. isolated from the International Space Station

A single strain from the family Paenibacillaceae was isolated from the wall behind the Waste Hygiene Compartment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2018, as part of the Microbial Tracking mission series. This strain was identified as a gram-positive, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative motile bacterium in the genus Cohnella, designated as F6_2S_P_1T. The 16S sequence of the F6_2S_P_1T strain places it in a clade with C. rhizosphaerae and C. ginsengisoli, which were originally isolated from plant tissue or rhizosphere environments. The closest 16S and gyrB matches to strain F6_2S_P_1T are to C. rhizosphaerae with 98.84 and 93.99% sequence similarity, while a core single-copy gene phylogeny from all publicly available Cohnella genomes places it as more closely related to C. ginsengisoli. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values to any described Cohnella species are <89 and <22%, respectively. The major fatty acids for strain F6_2S_P_1T are anteiso-C15:0 (51.7%), iso-C16:0 (23.1%), and iso-C15:0 (10.5%), and it is able to metabolize a wide range of carbon compounds. Given the results of the ANI and dDDH analyses, this ISS strain is a novel species within the genus Cohnella for which we propose the name Cohnella hashimotonis, with the type strain F6_2S_P_1T (=NRRL B-65657T and DSMZ 115098T). Because no closely related Cohnella genomes were available, this study generated the whole-genome sequences (WGSs) of the type strains for C. rhizosphaerae and C. ginsengisoli. Phylogenetic and pangenomic analysis reveals that F6_2S_P_1T, C. rhizosphaerae, and C. ginsengisoli, along with two uncharacterized Cohnella strains, possess a shared set of 332 gene clusters which are not shared with any other WGS of Cohnella species, and form a distinct clade branching off from C. nanjingensis. Functional traits were predicted for the genomes of strain F6_2S_P_1T and other members of this clade.

Cohnella herbarum sp. nov., isolated from wild grass fermentation broth

A novel strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, motile, endospore-forming, white-coloured bacterium, designated strain MFER-1T, was isolated from a fermented liquor of wild grasses sampled in the Republic of Korea. The respiratory quinone of strain MFER-1T was menaquinone-7 and its major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (55.3 %), iso-C16 : 0 (17.5 %) and C16 : 0 (12.1 %). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminophospholipids and an unidentified phospholipid. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MFER-1T showed similarity of 98.1 % to ‘Cohnella cholangitidis’ 1 605-214T and below 98.0 % sequence similarity to the other Cohnella species. The phylogenomic tree indicated that strain MFER-1T formed a reliable cluster with several Cohnella species. The estimated genome size of strain MFER-1T was 8.52 Mb. Genomic DNA G+C content was 50.7mol%. The orthologous average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and amino acid identity values of strain MFER-1T with the most closely related species ‘Cohnella cholangitidis’ 1 605-214T were 78.7, 23.0 and 79.6 %, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, strain MFER-1T should represent a novel species of the genus Cohnella , for which the name Cohnella herbarum sp. nov. is proposed, with strain MFER-1T (=KACC 21 257T=NBRC 114 628T) as the type strain.

Cohnella mopanensis sp. nov., a new Gram-negative bacterium isolated from soil in Xinping Mountain National Forest Park

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria strain, named YIM B01951^T, was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Mopan Mountain National Forest Park, Xinping City, Yunnan Province, southwest PR China (101°58'06" N, 23°03'02" E). Growth occurred at 15-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 6.5) and with up to ≤ 3.0% (w/v) NaCl on Nutrient Agar plates. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis showed that strain YIM B01951^T was closely related to the type strain of Cohnella arctica M9-62^T (96.5%) and Cohnella lupini RLAHU4B^T (96.3%). YIM B01951^T contains anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0 as the major cellular fatty acids; the main polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), lysylphosphatidylglycerol (PGL) and five aminophospholipids (APL). The MK-7 is the major respiratory quinone and the DNA G + C content is 49.2 mol%. Based on these phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain YIM B01951^T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Cohnella, and named Cohnella mopanensis sp. nov. The type strain is YIM B01951^T (= NBRC 115331^T = KCTC 43370^T).

Cohnella terricola sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-positive, aerobic, flagellated, endospore-forming, rod-shaped strain, designated as G13^T, was isolated from soil. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis led to the conclusion that strain G13^T was phylogenetically related to Cohnella boryungensis BR29^T (97.5 %) and Cohnella phaseoli CECT 7287^T (96.9 %) with digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of 21.0 and 21.4 %, and distantly related to Cohnella thermotolerans CCUG 47242^T (94.8 %), type species of the genus Cohnella, at 19.0 %. The genome size of strain G13^T was 5 387 258 bp, with 51.3 mol% G+C content. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 9 (iso-C_17 : 1  ω9c and/or C_16 : 0 10-methyl), anteiso-C_17 : 0, iso-C_17 : 0 and iso-C_15 : 0. The predominant quinone was menaquinone-7 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidyglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, lysylphosphatidylglycerol, three aminophospholipids, two phosphoglycolipids, three aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. Based on the data from phenotypic tests and the genotypic differences between strain G13^T and its close phylogenetic relatives, strain G13^T represents a new species belonging to the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella terricola sp. nov. (=KACC 19905^T=NBRC 113748^T) is proposed.

Cohnella pontilimi sp. nov., isolated from tidal-flat mud

A Gram-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain, CAU 1483 ^T, was isolated from tidal-flat mud in the Republic of Korea. It grew optimally at 30 °C, in a pH 7.0 medium with 2% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain CAU 1483 ^T formed a separate clade within Paenibacillaceae together with members of the genus Cohnella. Strain CAU 1483 ^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.1%) to C. candidum 18JY8-7 ^T. Whole genome of strain CAU 1483 ^T was 4.29 Mb in size with a 53.7 mol% G + C content, and included 4046 coding sequences and included 4046 coding sequences, some of which associated with stress response. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization similarity between strain CAU 1483 ^T and related members of the genus Cohnella were 71.8-74.9% and 22.6-33.9%, respectively. The major respiratory quinone present in this strain was menaquinone-7. Strain CAU 1483 ^T contained anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0 as the major fatty acids, while its polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, three unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified lipids and an unidentified phospholipid. Peptidoglycan type was A1γ meso-Dpm. On the basis of taxonomic characterization, strain CAU 1483 ^T constitutes a novel species, for which the name Cohnella pontilimi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this novel species is CAU 1483 ^T (= KCTC 43047 ^T = NBRC 113953 ^T).

Description of Cohnella zeiphila sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from maize callus cultures

A Gram-stain positive, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterium designated as strain CBP-2801^T was isolated as a contaminant from a culture containing maize callus in Peoria, Illinois, United States. The strain is unique relative to other Cohnella species due to its slow growth and reduced number of sole carbon sources. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA indicated that strain CBP-2801^T is a Cohnella bacterium and showed the highest similarity to Cohnella xylanilytica (96.8%). Genome-based phylogeny and genomic comparisons based on average nucleotide identity confirmed the strain to be a novel species of Cohnella. Growth occurs at 15-45 °C (optimum 40 °C), pH 5-7 (optimum pH 6) and with 0-1% NaCl. The predominant fatty acids are anteiso-15:0 and 18:1 ω6c. Genome mining for secondary metabolites identified a putative biosynthetic cluster that encodes for a novel lasso peptide. In addition, this study contributes five new genome assemblies of type strains of Cohnella species, a genus with less than 30% of the type strains sequenced. The DNA G + C content is 58.7 mol %. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and biochemical data strain CBP-2801^T represents a novel species, for which the name Cohnella zeiphila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CBP-2801^T (= DSM 111598 = ATCC TSD-230).

Cohnella fermenti sp. nov., isolated from a fermentation process

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile with peritrichous flagella, rod-shaped bacterium, designated CC-MHH1044^T, was isolated from a preserved vegetable sample. A polyphasic taxonomic approach was applied to the isolates in order to clarify its taxonomic position. Growth of the strain CC-MHH1044^T occurred at 15-50 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0-2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1 %, w/v). The genome of strain CC-MHH1044^T consisted of 8.5 Mb and the genomic DNA G+C content was 58.5 mol%. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that CC-MHH1044^T belonged to the genus Cohnella and showed a close relationship with the type strains of Cohnella damuensis (96.2 %) and Cohnella panacarvi (95.9 %), and lower sequence similarity to other species. Average nucleotide identity values calculated from whole-genome sequencing data proved that CC-MHH1044^T represents a distinct Cohnella species. The dominant cellular fatty acids (>5 %) included iso-C_14 : 0(7.4 %), iso-C_15 : 0 (6.4 %), anteiso-C_15 : 0(40.3 %), C_16 : 0 (6.6 %) and iso-C_16 : 0 (27.0 %). The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified phospholipid and glycolipid. The major polyamine was spermidine. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaqinone 7 (MK-7). Based on its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic traits, together with results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization analyses, we conclude that strain CC-MHH1044^T represents a novel member of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella fermenti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-MHH1044^T (=BCRC 81147^T=JCM 32834^T).

Cohnella endophytica sp. nov., a novel endophytic bacterium isolated from bark of Sonneratia apetala

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain M2MS4P-1^T, was isolated from surface-sterilized bark of Sonneratiaapetala sampled in Guangxi, China. The bacterium was characterized by a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain M2MS4P-1^T belonged to the genus Cohnella and was most closely to Cohnella luojiensis HY-22R^T (98.4 % similarity). The average nucleotide identity value and estimated DDH value between strain M2MS4P-1^T and the type strain of C. luojiensis HY-22R^T were 79.2 and 20.1 %, respectively. Neither substrate nor aerial mycelia were formed, and no diffusible pigments were observed on the media tested. Strain M2MS4P-1^T grew in the pH range 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0), at temperatures between 10-37 °C (30 °C) and in 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (0 %). The predominant isoprenoid quinone in strain M2MS4P-1^T was menaquinone-7. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified aminophospholipids and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 51.5 mol%. According to the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic evidence, strain M2MS4P-1^T was clearly distinguishable from other species with validly published names in the genus Cohnella and should therefore be classified as a novel species, for which we suggest the name Cohnellaendophytica sp. nov. The type strain is M2MS4P-1^T (=KCTC 43011^T=CGMCC 1.13745^T).

Cohnella faecalis sp. nov., isolated from animal faeces in a karst cave

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, motile and aerobic bacterial isolate, designated strain K2E09-144^T, was obtained from animal faeces that were collected from a karst cave in Guizhou province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain K2E09-144^T represents a novel member of the genus Cohnella within the family Paenibacillaceae of the phylum Firmicutes. Strain K2E09-144^T was phylogenetically closely related to Cohnella nanjingensis D45^T (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity 97.0 %). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and C16 : 0. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaqinone 7 (MK-7). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid, four unidentified aminophospholipids, one glycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The isomer type of diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The genome of strain K2E09-144^T comprised 6.43 Mb, and encoded 6029 genes in total. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 53.3 mol%. Based on its phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain K2E09-144^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella faecalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K2E09-144^T (=CGMCC 1.13587^T=NBRC 113454^T).

Chengkuizengella sediminis gen. nov. sp. nov., isolated from sediment

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain J15A17T, was isolated from sediment of the South China Sea. The strain was oxidase-positive and catalase-negative. Optimal growth occurred at 33 °C, pH 7.5 and in the presence of 3 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain showed closest similarity (92.8 %) to Paenibacillus puldeungensis strain CAU 9324T. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate forms a separate branch within the family Paenibacillaceae, with the genus Cohnella as the most closely related genus. The DNA G+C content of strain J15A17T was 37.4 mol%. The strain contained MK-7 as the sole respiratory quinone; anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major cellular fatty acids; and its polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, glycolipid and four unidentified phospholipids. The strain displayed the peptidoglycan type A4α l-Lys-d-Asp in the cell wall. Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and morphological differences between strain J15A17T and its closest relatives in the genera Cohnella, Fontibacillus and Paenibacillus suggest that strain J15A17T (=KCTC 33759T=MCCC 1H00137T) represents the type strain of a novel species in a new genus within the family Paenibacillaceae, Chengkuizengella sediminis gen. nov. sp. nov.

Cohnella lubricantis sp. nov., isolated from a coolant lubricant solution

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-endospore-forming organism, isolated from a coolant lubricant solution was studied for its taxonomic position. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain KSS-154-50T was grouped into the genus Cohnella, most closely related to Cohnella formosensisCC-ALFALFA-35T (97.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Cohnella rhizosphaerae CSE-5610T (97.1 %) and Cohnella nanjingensis D45T (97.0 %); the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other species of the genus Cohnella was <97.0 %. The fatty acid profile from whole cell hydrolysates was very similar to those reported for other species of the genus Cohnella and supported the allocation to the genus Cohnella. In the fatty acid profiles, iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids were found as major compounds. The quinone system consisted predominantly of menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile contained the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. The major polyamine is spermidine. The results of physiological and biochemical characterization allowed in addition a phenotypic differentiation of strain KSS-154-50T from the three most closely related species. Hence, strain KSS-154-50T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella lubricantis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KSS-154-50T (=LMG 29763T=CCM 8707T).

Cohnella saccharovorans sp. nov., isolated from ginseng soil

A novel bacterial strain, CJ22T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field located in Anseong, Korea. Cells of strain CJ22T were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, motile, oxidase- and catalase-positive and rod-shaped. The isolate grew optimally at pH 7 and 30 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain CJ22T belonged to the genus Cohnella, displaying highest sequence similarity of 97.3% with Cohnella panacarvi Gsoil 349T. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain CJ22T and its closest relative was 35.5 % (reciprocal value, 23.8%). The phenotypic features of strain CJ22T also distinguished it from related species of the genus Cohnella. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone MK-7 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain CJ22T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16:0 and C16:0. The DNA G+C content was 63.1 mol%. Based on data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain CJ22T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella saccharovorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CJ22T (=KACC 17501T=JCM 19227T).

Cohnella collisoli sp. nov., isolated from lava forest soil

A novel bacterial strain, NKM-5T, was isolated from soil of a lava forest in Nokkome Oreum, Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain NKM-5T were Gram-stain-positive, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and oxidase- and catalase-positive. Strain NKM-5T contained anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids; menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone; diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified aminophospholipids as the polar lipids; and meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 48.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that strain NKM-5T was most closely related to Cohnella lupini RLAHU4BT (96.9 % sequence similarity) and fell into a clade in the genus Cohnella. On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain NKM-5T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella collisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NKM-5T ( = KCTC 33634T = CECT 8805T).

Ammoniibacillus agariperforans gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic, agar-degrading bacterium isolated from compost

A thermophilic, agar-degrading bacterium, strain FAB2(T), was isolated from sewage sludge compost. According to phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain FAB2(T) belonged to the family Paenibacillaceae within the phylum Firmicutes. However, FAB2(T) was different enough at the genus level from closely related species. The percentages of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with related organisms were 90.4 % for Thermobacillus xylanilyticus, 91.8 % for Paenibacillus barengoltzii, 89.4 % for Cohnella lupini, 90.1 % for Fontibacillus aquaticus, and 89.0 % for Saccharibacillus sacchari. Morphological and physiological analyses revealed that the strain was motile, rod-shaped, Gram-stain-positive, aerobic and able to form oval endospores in swollen sporangia. Ammonium was required as a nitrogen source while nitrate, nitrite, urea and glutamate were not utilized. Catalase and oxidase activities were weakly positive and positive, respectively. The bacterium grew in the temperature range of 50-65 °C and in media with pH 7.5 to 9.0. Optimal growth occurred at 60 °C and pH 8.0-8.6. Growth was inhibited at pH≤7.0 and NaCl concentrations ≥2.5 % (w/v). In chemotaxonomic characterization, MK-7 was identified as the dominant menaquinone. Major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. Dominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylcholine was present in a moderate amount. The diamino acid in the cell wall was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 49.5 mol% in a nucleic acid study. On the basis of genetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain FAB2(T) ( = NBRC 109510(T) = KCTC 33130(T)) showed characteristics suitable for classification as the type strain of a novel species of a new genus in the family Paenibacillaceae, for which the name Ammoniibacillus agariperforans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

Cohnella nanjingensis sp. nov., an extracellular polysaccharide-producing bacterium isolated from soil

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming bacterium, strain D45T, was isolated from soil in Nanjing, China. The organism grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and with 0 % NaCl (w/v). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed similarities lower than 97 % with respect to species of the genus Cohnella . The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7, with MK-6 present as a minor component; anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. The polar lipids of strain D45T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two aminophospholipids, four phospholipids, two glycolipids, one aminolipid and two lipids. The DNA G+C content was 59.5 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization of the isolate with two reference strains showed relatedness values of 33.4 % with Cohnella ginsengisoli DSM 18997T and 25.8 % with Cohnella thermotolerans DSM 17683T. The phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data supported the classification of strain D45T as a representative of a novel species of the genus Cohnella , for which the name Cohnella nanjingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D45T ( = CCTCC AB 2014067T = DSM 28246T).

Paenibacillus lupini sp. nov., isolated from nodules of Lupinus albus

A bacterial strain designated RLAHU15(T) was isolated from root nodules of Lupinus albus in Spain. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the isolate in the genus Paenibacillus, with its closest relatives being Paenibacillus catalpae D75(T), Paenibacillus glycanilyticus DS-1(T), Paenibacillus endophyticus PECAE04(T) and Paenibacillus xinjiangensis B538(T) with 98.8 %, 98.9 %, 97.4 % and 97.4 % similarity, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed values lower than 45 % between the strain RLAHU15(T) and any of these species. The isolate was a Gram-stain positive, motile and sporulating rod. Catalase activity was weak and oxidase activity was positive. Casein and starch were hydrolysed but gelatin was not. Growth was supported by many carbohydrates and organic acids as carbon sources. MK-7 was the only menaquinone detected and anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified lipid. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in the peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 54.4 mol%. Phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses showed that strain RLAHU15(T) represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus lupini sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RLAHU15(T) ( = LMG 27296(T) = CECT 8235(T)).

Cohnella rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere environment of Zea mays

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-endospore forming organism, isolated as a seed endophyte (colonizing the internal healthy tissue of plant seed) of sweet corn (Zea mays), strain CSE-5610T, was studied for its taxonomic allocation. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain CSE-5610T was grouped into the genus Cohnella, most closely related to Cohnella ginsengisoli GR21-5T (98.1%) and 'Cohnella plantaginis' YN-83 (97.5%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other members of the genus Cohnella was <96.6%. DNA-DNA hybridization of strain CSE-5610T with C. ginsengisoli DSM 18997T and 'C. plantaginis' DSM 25424 was 58% (reciprocal 24%) and 30% (reciprocal 27%), respectively. The fatty acid profile from whole cell hydrolysates supported the allocation of the strain to the genus Cohnella; iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids were found as major compounds. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was identified as the cell-wall diamino acid. The quinone system consisted predominantly of menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile was composed of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two aminophospholipids, a phospholipid and minor amounts of two polar lipids. In the polyamine pattern, spermidine was the major polyamine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 60 mol%. In addition, the results of physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain CSE-5610T from the two closely related strains. Hence, CSE-5610T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which we propose the name Cohnella rhizosphaerae sp. nov., with CSE-5610T (=LMG 28080T=CIP 110695T) as the type strain.