Sphingomonas morindae sp nov., isolated from Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) branch

Two yellow bacterial strains, designated NBD5(T) and NBD8, isolated from Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) branch were investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gramstain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile and short rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that the strains were members of a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, the seven closest neighbours being Sphingomonas oligoaromativorans SY-6(T) (96.9 % similarity), Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans B2-7(T) (95.8 %), Sphingomonas yantingensis 1007(T) (94.9 %), Sphingomonas sanguinis IFO 13937(T) (94.7 %), Sphingomonas ginsenosidimutans Gsoil 1429(T) (94.6 %), Sphingomonas wittichii RW1(T) (94.6 %) and Sphingomonas formosensis CC-Nfb-2(T) (94.5 %). Strains NBD5(T) and NBD8 had sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine as the major polar lipids, ubiquinone 10 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. Strains NBD5(T) and NBD8 were clearly distinguished from reference type strains based on phylogenetic analysis, DNA DNA hybridization, fatty acid composition data analysis, and comparison of a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data that strains NBD5(T) and NBD8 represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas morindae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBD5T (=DSM 29151(T)= KCTC 42183(T)=CICC 10879(T)).