Nitrogen-Fixing Paenibacillus haidiansis and Paenibacillus sanfengchensis: Two Novel Species from Plant Rhizospheres

Two strains, M1 and H32 with nitrogen-fixing ability, were isolated from the rhizospheres of different plants. Genome sequence analysis showed that a nif (nitrogen fixation) gene cluster composed of nine genes (nifB nifH nifD nifK nifE nifN nifX hesA nifV) was conserved in the two strains. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strains M1 and H32 are members of the genus Paenibacillus. Strains M1 and H32 had 97% similarity in the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain M1 had the highest similarity (97.25%) with Paenibacillus vini LAM 0504T in the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain H32 had the highest similarity (97.48%) with Paenibacillus faecis TCIP 101062T in the 16S rRNA gene sequences. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain M1 and its closest member P. vini were 78.17% and 22.3%, respectively. ANI and dDDH values between strain H32 and its closest member P. faecis were 88.94% and 66.02%, respectively. The predominant fatty acid of both strains is anteiso-C15:0. The major polar lipids of both strains are DPG (diphosphatidylglycerol) and PG (phosphatidylglycerol). The predominant isoprenoid quinone of both strains is MK-7. With all the phylogenetic and phenotypic divergency, two novel species Paenibacillus haidiansis sp. nov and Paenibacillus sanfengchensis sp. nov are proposed with the type strain M1T [=GDMCC (Guangdong Culture Collection Centre of Microbiology) 1.4871 = JCM (Japan Collection of Microorganisms) 37487] and with type strain H32T (=GDMCC 1.4872 = JCM37488).