Abstract

Strain CO 4-7T was isolated from greenhouse soil used for cultivation of cucumbers in Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CO 4-7T showed the highest sequence similarity with Paenibacillus contaminans CKOBP-6T (94.2%) among the type strains. Strain CO 4-7T was a strictly aerobic, Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming, and motile rodshaped bacterium. Strain CO 4-7T grew at 10–45°C (optimum, 30°C), at pH 6.0–7.5 (optimum, pH 6.5) and in the presence of 0–5% NaCl (optimum, 0.5%). The DNA G+C content of strain CO 4-7T was 48.5 mol%. It contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone and anteiso-C15:0 (51.8%), C16:0 (12.7%), and iso-C16:0 (8.6%) as the major fatty acids. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. Based on evidence from our polyphasic taxonomic study, it was concluded that strain CO 4-7T should be classified as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which, the name Paenibacillus cucumis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CO 4-7T (=KACC 17444T=JCM 19515T).

• Keywords: Paenibacillus cucumis; polyphasic taxonomy; novel species; soil