Biosystematic studies on novel streptomycetes from soil

Members of three putatively novel Streptomyces species, designated Streptomyces groups A, B and C, were repeatedly isolated from environmental samples taken from four hay meadow plots at Cockle Park Experimental Farm, Northumberland (UK). Representative isolates were found to have properties consistent with their classification in the genus Streptomyces and were recovered in three taxa using different phenotypic criteria, namely morphological and pigmentation properties, rapid enzyme tests, and whole-organism fatty acid, protein electrophoretic and pyrolysis mass-spectrometric data. The isolates were rapidly characterised as three taxonomic groups using pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The three taxa were also distinguished from one another and from validly described species of Streptomyces using rapid enzyme tests based on the fluorophores 7-amino-methylcoumarin and 4-methylumbelliferone, and computer-assisted identification procedures. The results indicate that selective isolation and rapid characterisation of streptomycetes using pyrolysis mass spectrometry provide a practical way of determining the phenotypic species diversity of streptomycetes in natural habitats. The experimental data also indicate that representative sampling of cultivable streptomycetes from soil can best be achieved using a multi-step extraction procedure coupled with the use of selective isolation procedures.