General Information: Environment: Soil, Terrestrial; Temp: Mesophile. Streptomyces violaceusniger 16S rRNA gene clade form a gray aerial spore mass and a grayish-yellow substrate mycelium on oatmeal agar, and produce aerial hyphae that differentiate into spiral chains of rugose ornamented spores. The characteristic earthy smell of freshly plowed soil is actually attributed to the aromatic terpenoid geosmin produced by species of Streptomyces. There are currently 364 known species of this genus, many of which are the most important industrial producers of antibiotics and other secondary metabolites of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antitumor nature, as well as immunosuppressants, antihypercholesterolemics, etc. Streptomycetes are crucial in the soil environment because their diverse metabolism allows them to degrade the insoluble remains of other organisms, including recalcitrant compounds such as lignocelluloses and chitin.