Kushneria phyllosphaerae sp. nov. and Kushneria endophytica sp. nov., plant growth promoting endophytes isolated from the halophyte plant Arthrocnemum macrostachyum.

Two endophytic bacteria (EAod3 and EAod7) were isolated from the aerial part of plants of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum growing in the Odiel marshes (Huelva, Spain). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated their affiliation to the genus Kushneria. 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains EAod3 and EAod7 showed the highest similarity to Kushneria marisflavi DSM 15357T (99.0 and 97.6 %, respectively). Digital DNA-DNA hybridization studies between the draft genomes of strain EAod3 and K. marisflavi DSM 15357 corresponded to 28.5 % confirming the novel lineage of strain EAod3 in the genus Kushneria. Cells of both strains were Gram-staining-negative, aerobic and motile rods able to grow at 4-37 °C, at pH 5.0-8.0 and tolerate 0.5-25 % NaCl (w/v). They presented ubiquinone Q9 and C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acids. The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic results, strains EAod3 (=CEC 9073=LMG 29856) and EAod7 (=CECT 9075=LMG 29858) are proposed as new representatives of the genus Kushneria, and the proposed names are Kushneria phyllosphaerae sp. nov. and Kushneria endophytica sp. nov., respectively. The whole genome sequence of strain EAod3 has a total length of 3.8 Mbp and a G+C content of 59.3 mol%.