Description of Cohnella rhizoplanae sp. nov., isolated from the root surface of soybean (Glycine max).

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JJ-181, was isolated from the root surface of soybean. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strain JJ-181 was grouped into the genus Cohnella, most closely related to Cohnella hashimotonis F6_2S_P_1 (98.85%) and C. ginsengisoli GR21-5 (98.3%). The pairwise average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridisation values of the JJ-181 genome assembly against publicly available Cohnella type strain genomes were below 84% and 28%, respectively. The fatty acid profile from whole cell hydrolysates, the cell wall diaminoacid, the quinone system, the polar lipid profile, and the polyamine pattern supported the allocation of strain JJ-181 to the genus Cohnella. In addition, the results of physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain JJ-181 from its closely-related Cohnella species. Functional analysis revealed that strain JJ-181 has different gene clusters related to swarming motility, chemotaxis ability, and endospore and biofilm formations. The gene content also suggests the ability of strain JJ-181 to synthesise biotin and riboflavin, as well as indole-3-acetic acid, an important phytohormone for plant growth. Based on polyphasic analyses, strain JJ-181 can be classified as a new species of the genus Cohnella, for which we propose the name Cohnella rhizoplanae sp. nov., with strain JJ-181 (= LMG 31678 = CIP 112018 = CCM 9031 = DSM 110650) as the type strain.