Lelliottia wanjuensis sp. nov. Isolated from Korean Lettuce in Wanju, South Korea

Ten Gram stain-negative, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, rod-shaped strains were isolated from lettuce in the city Wanju in South Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene analysis and multilocus sequence analysis indicated that the strains grouped closely together with all other Lelliottia (L.)-type strains. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) comparisons of the isolates showed a high relationship between the strains, as the ANI values of all strains ranged from 91.01 to 91.31% when compared to the L. jeotgali-type strain PFL01^T. All isolates showed the highest genomic DNA sequence similarity to the L. jeotgali PFL01^T strain at 43.3% when compared with digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH). Strain V104_15^T of the proposed novel Lelliottia species showed 91.2% and 43.3% similarity with the most closely related L. jeotgali PFL01^T-type strain in the ANI and dDDH comparisons, respectively. Strain V104_15^T could not grow at 45 °C and 7% NaCl, while L. jeotgali PFL01^T strain could grow at both these conditions. Strain V104_15^T showed ß-glucosidase activity but not α-glucosidase activity, while the L. jeotgali PFL01^T strain was α-glucosidase positive but ß-glucosidase negative. The major cellular fatty acids of strain V104_15^T were C_16:0 and cyclo-C_17:0 including summed features. The mol % G + C content of the genomic DNA of strain V104_15^T was 55.74%. Phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, as well as the phylogenomic analysis indicated that the strain V104_15^T represents a novel species of the genus Lelliottia, for which the name Lelliottia wanjuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is V104_15^T (= LMG 32996 ^T = DSM 115585 ^T).