Brenneria goodwinii sp. nov., associated with acute oak decline in the UK

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.