sp. nov. and sp. nov., two endophytic metal-resistant bacteria isolated from (Cav.) G. Don and (Humb. et Bonpl. ex Willd) M.C. Johnston.

Four Gram-positive, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-negative, rod-shaped, motile endophytic bacterial strains, designated NM3R9, NE1TT3, NE2TL11 and NE2HP2, were isolated from the inner tissues (leaf and stem) of and roots of . They were characterized using a polyphasic approach, which revealed that they represent two novel species. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the species closest to NE2HP2 was DSM 20754 (99.6 %) and that closest to NM3R9, NE2TL11 and NE2TT3 was NBRC 103075 (97.4 %). The whole-genome average nucleotide identity value between strain NM3R9 and DSM 20530 was 90.91 %, and that between strain NE2HP2 and DSM 20754 was 91.03 %. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization showed values of less than 70 % with the type strains of related species. The polar lipids present in both strains included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, glycolipids and unidentified lipids, whereas the major fatty acids included anteiso-C, anteiso-C, iso-C and C. Whole-cell sugars included mannose, rhamnose and galactose. Strains NM3R9 and NE2HP2 showed physiological characteristics different from those present in closely related species. According to the taxonomic analysis, both strains belong to two novel species. The name sp. nov. is proposed for strain NE2HP2 (=LMG 30875=CCBAU 101117) and sp. nov. for strains NM3R9 (=LMG 30873=CCBAU 101116), NE1TT3 (=CCBAU 101114) and NE2TL11 (=CCBAU 101115).