BURKHOLDERIA GRAMINIS SP, NOV., A RHIZOSPHERIC BURKHOLDERIA SPECIES, AND REASSESSMENT OF [PSEUDOMONAS] PHENAZINIUM, [PSEUDOMONAS] PYRROCINIA AND [PSEUDOMONAS] GLATHEI AS BURKHOLDERIA

In a survey of soil and wheat or maize rhizoplane bacteria isolated us ing a medium containing azelaic acid and tryptamine as sole carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, a large proportion of Burkholderia-li ke bacteria were found. Among them, a homogeneous group of strains was identifiable based on phenotypic properties, fatty acid composition, DNA-DNA hybridizations and 16S rDNA sequences. According to molecular data, this group belongs to the genus Burkholderia but its weak simila rity to previously described species suggests that it belongs to a nov el species. Closest 16S rDNA phylogenetic neighbours of this species a re Burkholderia caryophylli and two previously named Pseudomonas speci es which clearly appear to be part of the Burkholderia genus and were thus named Burkholderia glathei comb. nov. and Burkholderia phenaziniu m comb. nov. Strains of the new species are oxidase-and catalase-posit ive, produce indole and gelatinase, and use L-xylose, lactose, rhamnos e, trehalose, D-lyxose, L-arabitol, xylitol and D-raffinose as sole ca rbon source. This novel taxon is named Burkholderia graminis. In the c ourse of this study, [Pseudomonas] pyrrocinia also proved to be a memb er of the Burkholderia genus.