Corynebacterium halotolerans sp nov., isolated from saline soil in the west of China

A halotolerant, non-spore-forming actinobacterium was isolated from a soil sample from the west of China. The strain, designated YIM 70093(T) (=CCTCC AA 001024(T)=DSM 44683(T)) comprised Gram-positive, non-motile, diphtheroid and irregular rods. It grew in 0-25% KCl (KCl could be substituted by NaCl or MgCl2.6H(2)O), with optimum growth at 10% KCl, and its optimal pH and cultivation temperature were 7.2 and 28degreesC, respectively. On the basis of its morphological, physiological and phylogenetic characteristics, strain YIM 70093(T) should be classified in the genus Corynebacterium. However, it is sufficiently different from hitherto described Corynebacterium species to be considered as a novel species, for which the name Corynebacterium halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed.