Table 3.
Phenotypic features of the 36 strains studied.
| Strains (7SPE) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 2021 S2/0 | 2117 S2/10 | 2022 S2/0 | 3′030S3/0 | 3′128S3/10 | 223 S2/20 | 1′211S1/20 | 116 S1/10 |
|
| ||||||||
| Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. |
| Colonial morphology | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | irregular and spreading |
| Colony size | 1 mm | 1-2 mm | 1 mm | 1-2 mm | 1 mm | 1-2 mm | 2 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Colony | convex | convex | convex | slightly raised | flat | convex | convex | convex |
| Colony density | opaque matt | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening | translucent glistening |
| Pigmentation | cream | white | cream | transparent-white | cream | cream | white | white |
| Cell shape | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods |
| Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | single, paired cells and long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | paired cells and long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | paired chains |
| Chains | − | + | − | − | + | − | − | + |
| Motile | − | − | − | − | + | − | − | + |
| Cell size; length and width (μm) | 2–5 × 1 | 3–7.5 × 1 | 1–4 × 1 | 1–4 × 1 | 2–5 × 1 | 3–7.5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1.75 | 2–7.5 × 1 |
| Oxidase | + | − | + | − | + | − | − | − |
| Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C, pH 7.2 | ||||||||
| 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 2% NaCl | + | − | − | − | + | − | + | + |
| 5% NaCl | + | − | − | − | + | − | + | + |
| 8% NaCl | + | + | − | − | + | + | + | + |
| 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C | ||||||||
| pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20E: | ||||||||
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Citrate utilization | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | + |
| H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Urease | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Voges-Proskauer | + | + | + | − | − | − | − | − |
| Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Fermentation/oxidation: | ||||||||
| D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Amygdalin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20NE: | ||||||||
| NO3 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | + |
| NO2 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Assimilation of: | ||||||||
| D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| N-acetyl-glucosamine | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | + |
| D-maltose | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Malic acid | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | + |
| Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 604 S6/0 | 6′02S6/0 | 419 S4/10 | 402 S4/0 | 605 S6/0 | 2019 S2/0 | 214 S2/10 | 403 S4/0 |
|
| ||||||||
| Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. |
| Colonial morphology | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading |
| Colony size | 1 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1 mm flat | 3 mm convex |
| Colony density | transparent glistening | opaque matt | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening |
| Pigmentation | cream | white | cream | white | white | white | cream | white |
| Cell shape | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells |
| Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells |
| Chains | − | − | + | + | + | + | − | + |
| Motile | − | − | − | + | − | + | + | + |
| Cell size; length and width (μm) | 2–5 × 1 | 3–7.5 × 1.5 | 3–7.5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1 | 2–5 × 1 | 2–5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1 |
| Oxidase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C, pH 7.2 | ||||||||
| 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 2% NaCl | − | − | − | + | + | + | + | + |
| 5% NaCl | − | − | − | + | + | + | + | + |
| 8% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C | ||||||||
| pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20E: | ||||||||
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Citrate utilization | − | − | − | + | + | − | − | + |
| H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Urease | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Voges-Proskauer | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Fermentation/oxidation: | ||||||||
| D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | + |
| D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Amygdalin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20NE: | ||||||||
| NO3 reduction | − | − | − | + | + | + | − | + |
| NO2 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Assimilation of: | ||||||||
| D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| N-acetyl-glucosamine | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | − |
| D-maltose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Malic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 139 S1/30 | 2015 S2/0 | 1′010S1/0 | 2230 S2/20 | 101 S1/0 | 1′115S1/10 | 1′213S1/20 | 108 S1/0 |
|
| ||||||||
| Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. |
| Colonial morphology | Irregular and spreading | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | Circular | irregular and spreading |
| Colony size | 1-2 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 0.3 mm slightly raised | 1-2 mm convex |
| Colony density | translucent glistening | opaque matt | translucent glistening | opaque matt | translucent glistening | translucent glistening | translucent matt | translucent glistening |
| Pigmentation | white | white | white | cream | white | white | white | white |
| Cell shape | pleomorphic cells | Pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells |
| Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells |
| Chains | − | + | − | + | + | + | − | + |
| Motile | − | + | − | + | + | + | − | − |
| Cell size; length and width (μm) | 2–7.5 × 1 | 2–5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1.75 | 2–5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1.5 | 2–7.5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1 |
| Oxidase | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C, pH 7.2 | ||||||||
| 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 2% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | − | + |
| 5% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 8% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | − | + | + |
| 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C | ||||||||
| pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20E: | ||||||||
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Citrate utilization | − | − | − | − | + | − | − | − |
| H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Urease | + | + | + | + | + | − | + | + |
| Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Voges-Proskauer | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Fermentation/oxidation: | ||||||||
| D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Amygdalin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20NE: | ||||||||
| NO3 reduction | + | − | + | − | + | + | + | + |
| NO2 reduction | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Assimilation of: | ||||||||
| D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| N-acetyl-glucosamine | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-maltose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Malic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 137 S1/30 | 103 S1/0 | 3′020S3/0 | 326 S3/20 | 304 S3/0 | 3′09S3/0 | 426 S4/20 | 3216 S3/20 |
|
| ||||||||
| Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. |
| Colonial morphology | irregular and spreading | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | Circular |
| Colony size | 1-2 mm convex | 0.5–1 mm convex | 0.3 mm flat | 0.3 mm convex | 0.3 mm flat | 0.2-0.3 mm flat | 1 mm flat | 0.2-0.3 mm slightly raised |
| Colony density | translucent glistening | translucent matt | opaque matt | translucent matt | opaque matt | transparent matt | opaque matt | translucent matt |
| Pigmentation | white | white | yellowish- cream | white | transparent white | transparent- white | transparent- white | transparent- white |
| Cell shape | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells |
| Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells |
| Chains | − | + | − | + | + | − | − | − |
| Motile | − | + | − | − | − | − | + | − |
| Cell size; length and width (μm) | 2–7.5 × 1 | 2–7.5 × 1.5 | 1–3 × 0.5 | 1–4 × 0.5 | 1–3 × 0.5 | 1–3 × 0.5 | 1–4 × 0.5 | 1–4 × 0.5 |
| Oxidase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C, pH 7.2 | ||||||||
| 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 2% NaCl | + | + | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 5% NaCl | + | + | − | − | − | − | + | − |
| 8% NaCl | + | + | − | + | − | − | + | − |
| 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C | ||||||||
| pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20E: | ||||||||
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Citrate utilization | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | + |
| H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Urease | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Voges-Proskauer | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − |
| Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Fermentation/oxidation: | ||||||||
| D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Amygdalin | − | − | + | + | − | − | − | − |
| L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| API 20NE: | ||||||||
| NO3 reduction | + | + | + | + | − | − | − | − |
| NO2 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Assimilation of: | ||||||||
| D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| N-acetyl-glucosamine | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| D-maltose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Malic acid | − | − | + | + | − | − | − | − |
| Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
|
| ||||||||
| Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 105 S1/0 | 2018 S2/0 | 411 S4/10 | 4115 S4/10 | ||||
|
| ||||||||
| Taxonomical status | Marinococcus sp. | Pontibacillus sp. | Halobacillus sp. | Halorubrum sp. | ||||
| Colonial morphology | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | ||||
| Colony size | 1 mm convex | 1 mm flat | 1 mm flat | 0.3 mm slightly raised | ||||
| Colony density | opaque matt | opaque matt | opaque matt | opaque matt | ||||
| Pigmentation | reddish- orange | cream | cream | brick-red | ||||
| Cell shape | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | ||||
| Cell arrangement | single, paired and irregularly clustered cells | long chains | long chains | single and paired cells | ||||
| Chains | − | + | + | − | ||||
| Motile | − | + | + | + | ||||
| Cell size; length and width (μm) | 1–5 × 2 | 1–4 × 1 | 1–4 × 1 | 1–4 × 1 | ||||
| Oxidase | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Catalase | + | − | − | − | ||||
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C, pH 7.2 | ||||||||
| 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | ||||
| 2% NaCl | − | − | − | − | ||||
| 5% NaCl | + | + | + | − | ||||
| 8% NaCl | + | + | + | + | ||||
| 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | ||||
| 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | ||||
| 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | ||||
| 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | ||||
|
| ||||||||
| Growth at 37°C | ||||||||
| pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | ||||
| pH 6 | + | + | + | + | ||||
| pH 7 | + | + | + | + | ||||
| pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | ||||
| pH 8 | − | − | − | − | ||||
|
| ||||||||
| API 20E: | ||||||||
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| ONPG | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | ||||
| Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | ||||
| Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | ||||
| Citrate utilization | + | + | + | + | ||||
| H2S production | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Urease | + | + | + | + | ||||
| Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Indol production | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Voges-Proskauer | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Fermentation/oxidation: | ||||||||
| D-glucose | − | − | − | − | ||||
| D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Inositol | − | − | − | − | ||||
| D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | ||||
| L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | ||||
| D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | ||||
| D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Amygdalin | − | − | − | − | ||||
| L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | ||||
|
| ||||||||
| API 20NE: | ||||||||
| NO3 reduction | − | − | − | − | ||||
| NO2 reduction | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Hydrolysis of: | ||||||||
| Aesculin | − | − | − | − | ||||
| PNPG | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Assimilation of: | ||||||||
| D-mannose | − | − | − | − | ||||
| N-acetyl-glucosamine | − | − | − | − | ||||
| D-maltose | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Capric acid | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Malic acid | − | − | − | − | ||||
| Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | ||||