Abstract:
Several Gram-negative-staining, facultatively anaerobic bacterial isolates were obtained from
Eucalyptus seedlings showing symptoms of bacterial blight and dieback in Colombia, Rwanda and
South Africa. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, together with partial gyrB sequencing, placed the
isolates in the genus Pantoea and indicated that they constituted three novel species. Multilocus
sequence analysis (MLSA) based on partial sequences of gyrB, rpoB, infB and atpD revealed
Pantoea dispersa, Pantoea eucrina and Pantoea cypripedii as their closest phylogenetic relatives.
DNA–DNA hybridization studies confirmed the classification of the new isolates as three novel
species and phenotypic tests allowed them to be differentiated from their closest phylogenetic
neighbours. The names Pantoea rodasii sp. nov. [type strain LMG 26273T5BD 943T (deposited
with the Plant Pathogenic and Plant Protecting Bacteria Collection, South Africa)5BCC 581T
(deposited with the Bacterial Culture Collection, Forestry and Agricultural Institute, South Africa)],
Pantoea rwandensis sp. nov. (type strain LMG 26275T5BD 944T5BCC 571T) and Pantoea
wallisii sp. nov. (type strain LMG 26277T5BD 946T5BCC 682T) are proposed.
