Actinopolyspora alba sp. nov. and Actinopolyspora erythraea sp. nov., isolated from a salt field, and reclassification of Actinopolyspora iraqiensis Ruan et al. 1994 as a heterotypic synonym of Saccharomonospora halophila.

Three actinomycetal strains, designated YIM 90479, YIM 90480(T) and YIM 90600(T), were isolated from a salt field in Xinjiang province, North-west China and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic study. All three strains were moderately halophilic and were able to grow on agar at NaCl concentrations of up to 20-25 % (w/v). No growth was observed in the absence of NaCl. Good growth occurred at 37 °C and 15 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell walls of the three strains were of the type IV variety and their phospholipid patterns were type PIII. MK-9 (H(4)) and MK-10 (H(4)) or MK-9 (H(4)) and MK-9 (H(2)) were the predominant menaquinones. iso-C(16 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0) or anteiso-C(15 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0) were the major fatty acids. The G+C contents of the genomic DNA were 66.4-68.3 mol%. Based on differential phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics and the results of DNA-DNA hybridization tests, the three novel stains represent two novel species, for which the names Actinopolyspora alba sp. nov. and Actinopolyspora erythraea sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains of the species are YIM 90480(T) ( = DSM 45004(T)  = KCTC 19119(T)) and YIM 90600(T) ( = CCTCC M 208247(T)  = KCTC 19372(T)). In addition, we propose that Actinopolyspora iraqiensis (Ruan et al., 1994) be transferred to the genus Saccharomonospora as a heterotypic synonym of Saccharomonospora halophila based on present research results.