Actinomycetes University of Udine, Mycology Department ISSN: 0732-0574 Vol. 6, Num. 1, 1995

Distribution of soil actinomycetes in the south of China

H. Runmao, L. Junying and Y. Guozhu

Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Sichuan, Chengdu, P.R. China 610051

Code Number: AC95006
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Abstract.

Novel actinomycete taxa are more abundant in South than in North-East China. In the course of the investigation some 8258 strains, belonging to 25 different genera, were isolated in the region.

Actinomycetes occur in a wide range of environments. Although they provide a continuing source of scientifically interesting and commercially useful isolates, little is known about their distribution and activities in nature.

Since 1980 isolations have been carried out from soil samples of Southern China. The present report deals with the taxonomic status of the isolates.

Materials and methods

Soil samples (122) were collected in nine provinces of the southern part of P.R. China, comprised between 19 and 30 N latitudes.

Samples were treated as previously detailed (Runmao et al., 1994b) using humic acid-vitamin agar as the isolation medium (Nonomura and Hayakawa, 1988). Isolates were maintained on oatmeal agar.

Results and discussion

Over eight thousand actinomycetes, belonging to 25 genera, were isolated (Table 1). Some strains represent novel organisms and new generic and specific taxa, such as Planotetraspora (Runmao et al., 1993), Planotetraspora viridis (Runmao et al., 1995c), Cathayosporangium (Runmao et al., 1995b), Streptoplanospora (Runmao et al., 1995a) and Saccharomonospora yangshuoensis (Runmao et al., 1994a), have been described.

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GENUS                       No. of ISOLATES

Streptomyces                     5078
Actinoplanes                      525
Actinomadura                      350
Micropolyspora                    311
Micromonospora                    233
Dactylosporangium                 104
Saccharopolyspora                  76
Pseudonocardia                     58
Streptosporangium                  58
Microbispora                       56
Cathayosporangium                  54
Saccharomonospora                  46
Planotetraspora                    36
Amorphosporangium                  31
Microtetraspora                    19
Nocardia                           18
Herbidospora                       17
Ampullariella                      16
Streptoverticillium                 6
Actinobispora                       2
Planobispora                        2
Streptoplanospora                   2
Streptoalloteichus                  1
Thermomonospora                     1
Promicromonospora                   1
Not identified                   1180

Table. 1. Number of strains isolated from soils of the southern part of China.

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From this study it appears that novel taxa of actinomycetes are more abundant in soils of South than of North-East China (Runmao et al., 1994a, 1994c). Probably this is due to more favourable factors (temperature, humidity and chemical soil composition) determining a higher activity of microorganisms in the soils of the former region.

Clearly more actinomycetes remain to be detected in natural environments. This stresses the need for more efficient isolation procedures.

Acknowledgements.

The authors wish to thank Drs.M.Lianjun and C.Yiwen for help in the collection of soil samples and Prof.C.Shun-Yang for assistance with the manuscript.

References

Nonomura, H. & M.Hayakawa (1988). New methods for the selective isolation of soil actinomycetes. In: Y.Okami, T.Beppu & H.Ogawara (eds.) The Biology of the Actinomycetes '88. Japan Sci.Soc.Press, Tokyo, pp. 288-293

Runmao, H., W.Guizhen & L.Junying (1993). A new genus of actinomycetes: Planotetraspora gen.nov. Int.J.Syst.Bacteriol., 43: 468-470

Runmao, H., W.Guizhen & L.Junying (1994a). Saccharomonospora yangshuoensis sp.nov. Actinomycetes, 5: 9-11

Runmao, H., M.Lianjun & W.Guizhen (1994b). Distribution of soil actinomycetes in North-east China. Actinomycetes, 5: 12-13

Runmao, H., L.Junying & Y.Guozhu (1994c). Prevalent distribution of soil actinomycetes in some regions of northern and southern part of China. Chin.J.Antib., 19(3): 189-193 (in Chinese)

Runmao, H., L.Junying & Y.Guozhu (1995a). A new genus of actinomycetes, Streptoplanospora gen.nov. Actinomycetes, 6: 16-18

Runmao, H., L.Junying & Y.Guozhu (1995b). A new genus of actinomycetes: Cathayosporangium gen.nov. Actinomycetes, 6: 19-22

Runmao, H., L.Junying & Y.Guozhu (1995c). A new species of the genus Planotetraspora, Planotetraspora viridis sp.nov. Actinomycetes, 6: 23-25.

Copyright 1995 CECT

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