Abstract
The present work aimed to characterize rhizobia nodulating Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) cultivated in six different geographical locations in Northwestern Morocco. Forty-seven rhizobial isolates from nodules of Trigonella foenum-graecum were grouped into thirteen clusters using the Rep-PCR technique. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of 13 groups showed that all representative strains were closely related to members of the genus Ensifer (syn. Sinorhizobium) of the Alphaproteobacteria. All the representative strains shared 100% similarity with Ensifer medicae WSM419T. NodC and nifH gene analysis revealed a close phylogenetic relationship of the representative strains with those of the strains belonging to the symbiovar meliloti. Furthermore, nodulation ability of our rhizobial strains was efficient in their host plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).
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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the CNRST (Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique) of Morocco for the sequencing of 16S rRNA, nodC, and nifH genes.
Funding
This work was supported by Projets thèmatiques-UAE, (Grant numbers 03/21). Author Barrijal Said and Belkadi Najlae has received research support from Abdelmalek Essaadi University.
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NB and SB wrote the main manuscript text. FE and IS participated in reviewing the manuscript. NB and RC prepared the figures. AR done the nod gene sequencing. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
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Communicated by Erko Stackebrandt.
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Belkadi, N., Ezzakkioui, F., Saibari, I. et al. Genetic diversity of rhizobia isolated from nodules of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) cultivated in Northwestern Morocco. Arch Microbiol 204, 574 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-022-03189-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-022-03189-x