Desulfovibrio zosterae sp. nov., a new sulfate reducer isolated from surface-sterilized roots of the seagrass Zostera marina

A sulfate-reducing bacterium, designated strain lac(T), was isolated from s urface-sterilized roots of the benthic macrophyte Zostera marina. Cells wer e motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Strain lac(T) utilized lacta te, pyruvate, malate, ethanol, L-alanine, fumarate, choline and fructose wi th sulfate as electron acceptor. In addition, fumarate, pyruvate and fructo se were also degraded without an external electron acceptor. Sulfate could be substituted with thiosulfate, sulfite and elemental sulfur. Optimal grow th was observed between 32.5 and 34.5 degrees C, at an NaCl concentration o f 0.2 M and in a pH range between 6.8 and 7.3. The G+C content of the DNA w as 42.7+/-0.2 mol %. Desulfoviridin and catalase were present. Strain lacT contained c-type cytochromes. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis a nd the fatty acid pattern grouped this isolate into the genus Desulfovibrio . However, strain lac(T) differs from ail other described Desulfovibrio spe cies on the bases of its 16S rRNA gene sequence, the G+C content, its cellu lar lipid pattern and the utilization pattern of substrates. These characte ristics establish strain lac(T) (= DSM 11974(T)) as a novel species of the genus Desulfovibrio, for which the name Desulfovibrio zosterae sp. nov. is proposed.