Selective isolation and characterisation of members of the Streptomyces violaceusniger clade associated with the roots of Paraserianthes falcataria

Large numbers of putatively novel streptomycetes were isolated from environ mental samples collected from in and around the root system of the tropical angiosperm, Paraserianthes falcataria. Representative isolates were assign ed to 37 multi-membered and 107 single membered colour groups based on thei r ability to form pigments on oatmeal and peptone yeast extract iron agars. The largest taxon, colour group 3, encompassed 94 isolates which had morph ological properties typical of members of the Streptomyces violaceusniger c lade. Twelve representatives of this taxon chosen on the basis of Curie-poi nt pyrolysis mass spectrometric data were compared with representatives of the validly described species which constitute the Streptomyces violaceusni ger clade. Six out of the twelve representative strains were readily distin guished from one another and from the marker strains using a combination of genotypic and phenotypic properties. These organisms were consequently con sidered to merit species status as Streptomyces asiaticus sp. nov., Strepto myces cangkringensis sp. nov., Streptomyces indonesiensis sp. nov., Strepto myces javensis sp. nov., Streptomyces rhizosphaerius sp. nov. and Streptomy ces yogyakartensis sp. nov.