Leuconostoc pseudoficulneum sp nov., isolated from a ripe fig

Six strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from a ripe fig. These strains constituted a highly homogeneous, but distinct, cluster that was separate from other LAB species in a polyphasic approach including dot-blot DNA-DNA hybridization, SDS-PAGE whole-cell protein profiling, carbohydrate fermentation ability, growth characteristics, enzymic profiling, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis macrorestriction analysis and RFLPs. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing positioned a representative strain, LC51(T), in a distinct line of descent within the recently described clade comprising Leuconostoc ficulneum, Leuconostoc fructosunn and Leuconostoc durionis; L. ficulneum was its closest neighbour (98% sequence similarity). DNA-DNA hybridization values and chemotaxonomic and biochemical characteristics, including enzymic profiles detected with API ZYM microtubes, confirmed that this group of strains is distinct from L. ficulneum and represents a novel species within the genus Leuconostoc. Taking into account the common origin and phylogenetic proximity, the name Leuconostoc pseudoficulneum sp. nov. is proposed. Strain LC51(T) (= DSM 1546 B-T = CECT 5759(T)) is the type strain; the DNA G+C content of this strain is 44(.)5 mol%.