DNA RELATEDNESS AMONG STRAINS OF THE STREPTOMYCES-LAVENDULAE PHENOTYPIC CLUSTER GROUP

DNA relatedness was evaluated among the type strains of Streptomyces lavendulae and the 11 species which were designated as subjective synonyms in volume 4 of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Three S. lavendulae subspecies, five putative strains of S. lavendulae, and the type strain of ''S. majorciensis'' were also included in the present study. The 21 strains studied segregated into 14 clusters (average linkage) when grouped at > 70% DNA relatedness, including 10 single-member clusters. S. lavendulae, S. lavendulae subsp. avirens, S. lavendulae subsp. grasserius, and S. columbiensis were found to be synonymous at > 79% DNA relatedness. The other clusters, on the basis of their relatively low DNA relatedness to S. lavendulae, appear to be valid species rather than subjective synonyms of S. lavendulae.