Luteimonas aquatica sp. nov., isolated from fresh water from Southern Taiwan.

A yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated RIB1-20(T), isolated from fresh water was investigated by means of a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The cells were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming. Phylogenetic analyses with the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain formed a monophyletic branch towards the periphery of the evolutionary radiation occupied by the genus Luteimonas, its two closest neighbours being Luteimonas composti CC-YY255(T) (96.1% sequence similarity) and Luteimonas mephitis B1953/27.1(T) (95.8%). Strain RIB1-20(T) was clearly distinguished from both of those type strains using phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, fatty acid composition data and a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data that strain RIB1-20(T) represents a novel species of the genus Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas aquatica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RIB1-20(T) (=BCRC 17731(T) =LMG 24212(T)).