Amycolatopsis pittospori sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from native apricot tree and genome mining revealed the biosynthesis potential as antibiotic producer and plant growth promoter.

An endophytic actinobacterium, strain PIP199, was isolated from a root sample of a native apricot growing on the Bedford Park campus of Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. The result of a polyphasic study showed that this strain was identified as a new member of the genus Amycolatopsis. Strain PIP199 is an aerobic actinobacterium with well-developed substrate mycelia and aerial mycelia that form short chains of spores. Amycolatopsis keratiniphila subsp. keratiniphila DSM 44409 (99.7%), Amycolatopsis lurida DSM 43134 (99.6%) and Amycolatopsis keratiniphila subsp. nogabecina DSM 44586 (99.4%) shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. A. keratiniphila subsp. keratiniphila DSM 44409 and A. lurida DSM 43134 were the closest phylogenetic neighbors. Chemotaxonomic data including major fatty acids, cell wall components and major menaquinones confirmed the affiliation of strain PIP199 to the genus Amycolatopsis. The phylogenetic analysis, physiological and biochemical studies and genomic study, allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain PIP199 and the closely related species with valid names. ANIb and dDDH values when compared to Amycolatopsis keratiniphila subsp. keratiniphila DSM 44409 were 87.3% and 36.4%, respectively. The name proposed for the new species is Amycolatopsis pittospori sp. nov. The type strain is PIP199 (= NRRL B-65536 = TBRC 10618).