Abstract

Strain ATSA2T was isolated from surface-sterilized kimchi cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) seeds and represents a novel bacterium based on the polyphasic taxonomic approach. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ATSA2T formed a lineage within genus Saccharibacillus and was most closely to Saccharibacillus deserti WLG055T (98.1%) and Saccharibacillus qingshengii H6T (97.9%). The whole-genome of ATSA2T comprised a 5,619,468 bp of circular chromosome with 58.4% G + C content. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain ATSA2T and its closely related type strains S. deserti WLJ055T and S. qingshengii H6T were 26.0% and 24.0%, respectively. Multiple gene clusters associated with plant growth promotion activities (stress response, nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism, and auxin biosynthesis) were annotated in the genome. Strain ATSA2T was Gram-positive, endospore-forming, facultatively anaerobic, and rod-shaped. It grew at 15–37°C (optimum 25°C), pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum pH 8.0), and in the presence of 0–5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%). The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) of strain ATSA2T were anteiso- C15:0 and C16:0. MK-7 was the major isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids present were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and three unknown glycolipids. Based on its phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic features, strain ATSA2T is proposed to represent a novel species of genus Saccharibacillus, for which the name is Saccharibacillus brassicae sp. nov. The type strain is ATSA2T (KCTC 43072T = CCTCC AB 2019223T).

• Keywords: Saccharibacillus brassicae; taxonomy; whole-genome sequence; endophytic bacterium; kimchi cabbage seeds