Sphingobacterium corticis sp nov., isolated from bark of Populus X euramericana

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, non-motile bacterial strain, 23D10-4-9(T), was isolated from symptomatic canker bark tissue of Populus X euramericana. The isolate grew between 4 and 35 degrees C, with optimal growth occurring at 25 degrees C. The species was positive for catalase and negative for oxidase activity. Nitrate was not reduced to nitrite. It showed activities toward b-galactosidase and b-glucosidase. Citrate was not utilized. Acid was produced from D-glucose. The major fatty acids were iso-C-15: 0, C-16 :1 omega 7c and iso-C-17:0 3-OH. The main polar lipid profiles of the novel isolate included phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipids and seven unknown lipids. The predominant menaquinone of the novel isolate was MK-7. The DNA G+C content was 40.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene data revealed that the novel isolate shares the greatest sequence similarity with Sphingobacterium populi 7Y-4(T) ( 96.1 %). Based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, the isolate represents a novel species within the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium corticis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 23D10-4-9(T) (= CFCC 12640(T) = KCTC 42248(T)).