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Three strains, MAFF 210191T, G24103T and G24116, assumed to be members of two novel species, were isolated from several rhizosphere habitats in different parts of Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolates formed a distinct monophyletic group together with the two known species of the genus Labrys, suggesting that the isolates have a close affiliation with this genus. In this study, a polyphasic approach was used to characterize and compare the three isolates with the two species of the genus Labrys, Labrys monachus and Labrys methylaminiphilus. All three isolates were aerobic, Gram-negative, motile and non-sporulating and they ranged in shape from spherical to short rods. The cells multiplied by budding and utilized a wide variety of monosaccharides, disaccharides and sugar alcohols as sole carbon and energy sources, but they did not utilize C1 compounds, salicin or d-melezitose. The strains were inhibited by dl-α-alanine and glycine (both at 10 mM). The major cellular fatty acids were C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c. The three isolates shared <12 % and <11 % DNA–DNA relatedness with L. monachus DSM 5896T and L. methylaminiphilus DSM 16812T, respectively. The G+C content of the isolates (61–62 mol%) was also significantly lower than those of the two previously characterized species. In spite of many morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic similarities among the three isolates, strain MAFF 210191T could be differentiated from strains G24103T and G24116 on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence, DNA–DNA relatedness (<46 %) and gelatin hydrolysis. Two novel species are therefore proposed, namely Labrys okinawensis sp. nov., with the type strain MAFF 210191T (=DSM 18385T), and Labrys miyagiensis sp. nov., with the type strain G24103T (=NBRC 101365T=NCIMB 14143T) and also including strain G24116 (=NBRC 101366=NCIMB 14144). Emended descriptions of the genus Labrys and Labrys monachus are also presented.

A quantitative as well as morphological analysis of three fibers (arecanut leaf sheath, coconut leaf sheath and coconut stem fiber) is showed here. FT-IR analysis of these fibers is also done for finding the difference of functional groups in the frequency domains of 4000-650 cm -1. Chemical analysis of fibers shows a comparative amount of chemical components such as aqueous extract, pectic matters, lignin, α-cellulose, hemicellulose, fatty and waxy matters in percent. Arecanut leaf sheath fiber represents the highest percent of α-cellulose. SEM analysis investigate the characteristics of the surface of the fibers.

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