Abstract:
A group of nine Gram-negative staining, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strains isolated from
native oak trees displaying symptoms of acute oak decline (AOD) in the UK were investigated
using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed
that these isolates form a distinct lineage within the genus Brenneria, family Enterobacteriaceae,
and are most closely related to Brenneria rubrifaciens (97.6% sequence similarity to the type
strain). Multilocus sequence analysis based on four housekeeping genes (gyrB, rpoB, infB and
atpD) confirmed their position within the genus Brenneria, while DNA–DNA hybridization
indicated that the isolates belong to a single taxon. The isolates can be differentiated
phenotypically from their closest phylogenetic neighbours. The phylogenetic and phenotypic data
demonstrate that these isolates from oak with symptoms of AOD represent a novel species in the
genus Brenneria, for which the name Brenneria goodwinii sp. nov. (type strain FRB 141T
5R-43656T 5BCC 845T 5LMG 26270T 5NCPPB 4484T) is proposed.
