Chryseobacterium endophyticum sp. nov., isolated from a maize leaf

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Plant Science
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Endophytic bacteria reside within plant tissues, influencing host physiology.
• The genus Chryseobacterium comprises Gram-negative, aerobic bacteria with diverse ecological roles.
• Maize (Zea mays) is a globally significant crop, and understanding its associated microbiome is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To taxonomically characterize a novel endophytic bacterium isolated from a maize leaf.
• To determine the phylogenetic placement and distinctiveness of the isolate within the genus Chryseobacterium.
• To propose a new species name and designation for the novel bacterium.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and cultivation of endophytic bacteria from maize leaves.
• Polyphasic taxonomic analysis including phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• DNA-DNA hybridization for genetic relatedness assessment and phylogenetic tree construction.

Main Results:

• Strain CC-YTH209^T is a Gram-negative, aerobic, yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium producing flexirubin.
• Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed close relation to Chryseobacterium rigui CJ16^T (97.5% similarity).
• DNA-DNA relatedness between strain CC-YTH209^T and C. rigui CJ16^T was low (14.4%), supporting its status as a distinct species.

Conclusions:

• Strain CC-YTH209^T represents a novel species within the genus Chryseobacterium.
• The proposed name for this new species is Chryseobacterium endophyticum sp. nov.
• The type strain is CC-YTH209^T (=BCRC 80938^T=JCM 31226^T).