Streptomyces multispiralis nov. sp. and a New Antibiotic, Neohumidin

A streptomycete isolated in our laboratories was found to produce a new antibiotic effective for the control of sheath blight of the rice plant. As a result of taxonomical study it was proved to belong to a new species and therefore it was named Streptomyces multispiralis nov. sp. From its fermented broth, the antibiotic was isolated and crystallized from benzene. After the comparison of its physicochemical and biological properties with those of known antibiotics, it was considered to be a new antibiotic and named neohumidin. It inhibited the growth of certain phytopathogenic fungi, saprophytic fungi, yeasts and gram-positive bacteria.