Burkholderia bryophila sp. nov. and Burkholderia megapolitana sp. nov., moss-associated species with antifungal and plant-growth-promoting properties.

A polyphasic taxonomic study including DNA-DNA reassociation experiments and an extensive biochemical characterization was performed on 14 Burkholderia isolates from moss gametophytes of nutrient-poor plant communities on the southern Baltic Sea coast in northern Germany. The strains were classified within two novel species, for which the names Burkholderia bryophila sp. nov. and Burkholderia megapolitana sp. nov. are proposed. The former species also includes isolates from grassland and agricultural soil collected in previous studies. Strains Burkholderia bryophila 1S18(T) (=LMG 23644(T) =CCUG 52993(T)) and Burkholderia megapolitana A3(T) (=LMG 23650(T) =CCUG 53006(T)) are the proposed type strains. They were isolated from Sphagnum rubellum and Aulacomnium palustre, respectively, growing in the 'Ribnitzer Grosses Moor' nature reserve (Mecklenburg-Pommern, Germany). All moss isolates of both novel species showed antifungal activity against phytopathogens as well as plant-growth-promoting properties.