Three actinomycetal strains, designated YIM 90479, YIM 90480T and YIM 90600T, were isolated
from a salt field in Xinjiang province, North-west China and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic
study. All three strains were moderately halophilic and were able to grow on agar at NaCl
concentrations of up to 20–25% (w/v). No growth was observed in the absence of NaCl. Good
growth occurred at 37 6C and 15% (w/v) NaCl. The cell walls of the three strains were of the
type IV variety and their phospholipid patterns were type PIII. MK-9 (H4) and MK-10 (H4) or MK-9
(H4) and MK-9 (H2) were the predominant menaquinones. iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 or
anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 were the major fatty acids. The G+C contents of the genomic
DNA were 66.4–68.3 mol%. Based on differential phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic
characteristics and the results of DNA–DNA hybridization tests, the three novel stains represent
two novel species, for which the names Actinopolyspora alba sp. nov. and Actinopolyspora
erythraea sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains of the species are YIM 90480T (5DSM 45004T
5KCTC 19119T) and YIM 90600T (5CCTCC M 208247T 5KCTC 19372T). In addition, we
propose that Actinopolyspora iraqiensis (Ruan et al., 1994) be transferred to the genus
Saccharomonospora as a heterotypic synonym of Saccharomonospora halophila based on
present research results.