Cells of strain No.164T were Gram-reaction-negative,
aerobic, pleomorphic rods (Fig. 1) and showed no motility.
The strain grew very well in marine medium, moderately in
R2A and LB. On MB agar, the isolate formed small red
colonies with entire margins that were non-adherent to the
agar. The culture grew over a temperature range of 20–
40 uC (optimal growth temperature was 30–35 uC), in the
presence of 0–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal range 0–4 % (w/v)
and between pH 7.0 and 12.0 (optimal range pH 8–10). The
strain was positive for catalase and DNase activity, degradation
of casein and hydrolysis of starch but negative for
xanthine and tyrosine degradation. In the flexirubin test, the
strain did not show a colour shift after alkalinization with
20 % KOH. The isolate produced a red coloured pigment, a
feature characteristic of members of the order Cytophagales