Chryseobacterium hilariae sp. nov., Sphingomonas larreae sp. nov., Sphingomonas astragali sp. nov., Sphingomonas radicis sp. nov., Variovorax stachyos sp. nov., Parapedobacter brassicae sp. nov., Neorhizobium descurainiae sp. nov., and Erwinia artemisiae sp. nov. isolated from dry soils revealing a diverse plant growth promoting potential

Bacteria belonging to the genera Chryseobacterium, Sphingomonas, Variovorax, Neorhizobium, Parapedobacter and Erwinia have been isolated from different soils and have also been shown to exhibit plant growth promoting (PGP) features. A polyphasic approach was employed to ascertain the taxonomic status of eight selected strains all isolated from dry soils in association with plants showing high desiccation tolerances. Based on the result of the polyphasic characterization, the following names are proposed: Chryseobacterium hilariae sp. nov., with DT-3^T as the type strain (= CIP 112171^T = LMG 32722^T = CCM 9258^T); Sphingomonas astragali sp. nov., with DT-204^T as the type strain (= CCM 9255^T = LMG 33194^T = CIP 112175^T); Sphingomonas radicis sp. nov., with DT-207^T as the type strain (= CCM 9257^T = LMG 32727^T = DSM 114514^T); Sphingomonas larreae sp. nov., with DT-51^T as the type strain (= CCM 9259^T = CIP 112177^T = DSM 114511^T = LMG 32723^T); Variovorax stachyos sp. nov., with DT-64^T as the type strain (= LMG 32724^T = DSM 114531^T = CIP 112170^T); Erwinia artemisiae sp. nov., with DT-104^T as the type strain (CCM 9256^T = LMG 32725^T = DSM 114512^T); Parapedobacter brassicae sp. nov., with DT-150^T as the type strain (LMG 32759^T = DSM 115120^T); and Neorhizobium descurainiae sp. nov., with DT-125^T as the type strain (LMG 32760^T = CIP 112184^T).