sp. nov., a Non-Phytopathogenic Bacterium Isolated from the Seedlings of Spring Wheat ( L.).

are widely known as phytopathogenic bacteria, but among them, there are also plant-friendly strains that can promote plant growth (PGPR). The -like strain OPT-41 was isolated from seedlings as a potential PGPR. The cells (0.9-1.3 × 1.5-3.1 µm) of this microorganism are Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile (with peritrichous flagella), and non-spore- and non-capsule-forming. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed it is located in the family and has a pairwise similarity above the species delineation threshold of 98.65% with several of its members: (99.21%), Pantoea bathycoeliae (98.93%), (98.87%), (98.83%), (98.82%), (98.76%) and (98.75%). Whole genome-based taxonomy performed on the Type (Strain) Genome Server clarified the status of strain OPT-41, detecting it as a potential new species in the genus . The microorganism under study was the most closely related to the type strain of , demonstrating 27.2% similarity in dDDH, 83.44% similarity in OrthoANIu, and 1.9% difference in G+C content. The major fatty acids of strain OPT-41 were 9 C, C, and C. A combination of genome-based taxonomy and traditional polyphasic taxonomy clearly indicated that strain OPT-41 belongs to a novel species, for which the name sp. nov was proposed. OPT-41 (=IBPPM 712=VKM B-3873D=CCTCC AB 2024361) has been designated as the type strain. In addition, OPT-41 was found to have low degradation potential for host plant pectins and proteins and be friendly in and crops.