Nicoliella lavandulae sp. nov., a novel fructophilic Nicoliella species isolated from flowers of Lavandula angustifolia

Abstract

A survey of fructophilic lactic acid bacteria associated with wild and cultivated plants in the metropolitan area of Valencia (Spain) led to the isolation of a novel strain of the genus Nicoliella, named Es01^T, from flowers of Lavandula angustifolia. The genus Nicoliella encompasses a single species, Nicoliella spurrieriana. Partial 16S rRNA coding gene sequencing revealed a similarity of 98.8% to N. spurrieriana SGEP1_A5^T. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculations revealed an ANI value of 80.49% with strain SGEP1_A5^T, the only N. spurrieriana strain with an available genomic sequence. A digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of 20% was estimated by the Type Strain Genome Server tool when Es01^T was compared with strain SGEP1_A5^T. On the basis of these results, strain Es01^T represents a novel species, for which the name Nicoliella lavandulae sp. nov. is proposed with Es01^T (=CECT 30999^T=DSMZ 117325^T=CCM 9394^T) as type strain.

Keywords: Lavandula angustifolia; Nicoliella; Valencia; flower; fructophilic.