Robbsia betulipollinis sp. nov., Isolated from Pollen of Birch (Betula pendula)

One gram-negative strain designated Bb-Pol-6( T) was isolated from birch (Betula pendula) pollen at Giessen area, Germany. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenies indicated the next-relative genera were Robbsia, Chitinasiproducens, Pararobbsia and Paraburkholderia (96–95.6%). Further comparative genome analysis and phylogenetic tree-based methods revealed its phylogenetic position under the genus Robbsia. The genome of strain Bb-Pol-6( T) was 5.04 Mbp with 4401 predicted coding sequences and a G + C content of 65.31 mol%. Average amino acid identity, average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and percentage of conserved proteins values to Robbsia andropogonis DSM 9511( T) were 68.0, 72.5, 22.7 and 65.85%, respectively. Strain Bb-Pol-6( T) was rod-shaped, non-motile, facultative anaerobic and grew optimally at 28 °C and pH 6–7. Ubiquinone 8 was the major respiratory quinone and the major cellular fatty acids were C(16:0), C(19:0 cyclo) ω7c, C(17:0 cyclo) ω7c and C(17:1) ω6c. The dominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminophospholipid. Based on the genomic physiological and phenotypic characteristics, strain Bb-Pol-6( T) was considered a novel species under the genus Robbsia, for which the name Robbsia betulipollinis sp. nov. was proposed. The type strain is Bb-Pol-6( T) (= LMG 32774( T) = DSM 114812( T)). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00284-023-03344-7.