Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The taxonomy of rhizobia: an overview

  • Conference paper
First International Meeting on Microbial Phosphate Solubilization

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 102))

Abstract

The taxonomy of rhizobia, bacteria capable of nodulating leguminous plants, has changed considerably over the last 20 years, with the original genus Rhizobium, a member of the alpha-Proteobacteria, now divided into several genera. The study of new geographically dispersed host plants, has been a source of many new species and is expected to yield many more. Here we provide an overview of the history of the rhizobia, but focus on the Rhizobium-Allorhizobium-Agrobacterium relationship. Finally, we review recent reports of nodulation and nitrogen fixation with legume hosts by bacteria that are outside the traditional rhizobial phylogenetic lineages. They include species of Methylobacterium and Devosia in the alpha-Proteobacteria and of Burkholderia and Ralstonia in the beta-Proteobacteria.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alazard D 1985 Stem and root nodulation in Aeschynomene sp. Appl. Evironm. Microbiol. 50, 732–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amarger N, Macheret V and Laguerre G 1997 Rhizobium gallicum sp. nov. and Rhizobium giardinii sp. nov., from Phaseolus vulgaris. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 47, 996–1006.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balkwill D L 2005 Genus VI. Ensifer Cassida 1982, 343VP. In Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology 2nd ed. Vol. 2, part C. Ed. G M Garrity. pp. 354–358. Springer, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett C F and Parker M A 2006 Coexistence of Burkholderia, Cupriavidus, and Rhizobium sp nodule bacteria on two Mimosa spp. in Costa Rica. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72, 1198–1206.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beijerinck M W 1888 Cultur des Bacillus radicola aus den Knöllchen. Bot. Ztg. 46, 740–750.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouzar H 1994 Request for a Judicial Opinion concerning the type species of Agrobacterium. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44, 373–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouzar H and Jones J B 2001 Agrobacterium larrymoorei sp. nov., a pathogen isolated from aerial tumours of Ficus benjamini. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 1023–1026.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casida L E Jr 1982 Ensifer adhaerens, gen. nov., sp. nov.: A bacterial predator of bacteria in soil. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 32, 339–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chantreuil C, Giraud E, Prin Y, Lorquin J, Bâ A, Gillis M, de Lajudie P and Dreyfus B 2000 Photosynthetic bradyrhizobia are natural endophytes of the African wild rice Oryza breviligulata. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66, 5437–5447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen W-M, Laevens S, Lee T-M, Coenye T, De Vos P, Mergeay M and Vandamme P 2001 Ralstonia taiwanensis sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Mimosa species and sputum of cystic fibrosis patients. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 1729–1735.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen WX, Li GS, Qi Y L, Wang E T, Yuan HL and Li J L 1991 Rhizobium huakuii sp. nov. isolated from the root nodules of Astragalus sinicus. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 41, 275–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen W-X, Tan Z-Y, Gao J-L, Li Y and Wang E T 1997 Rhizobium hainanense sp. nov., isolated from tropical legumes. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 47, 870–873.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen W, Wang E, Wang S, Li Y, Chen X and Li Y 1995 Characterization of Rhizobium tianshanense sp. nov., a moderately and slow growing root nodule bacterium isolated from an arid saline environment in Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 45, 153–159.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen W X, Yan G H and Li J L 1988 Numerical taxonomic study of fast-growing soybean rhizobia and proposal that Rhizobium fredii be assigned to Sinorhizobium gen. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 38, 392–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn H J 1942 Validity of the genus Alcaligenes. J. Bacteriol. 44, 353–360.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dangeard P A 1926 Recherches sur les turbercles radicaux des Légumineuses. Botaniste (Paris) 16, 1–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Date R A and Decker AM 1965 Minimal antigenic constitution of 28 strains of Rhizobium japonicum. Can. J. Microbiol. 11, 1–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Lajudie P, Laurent-Fulele E, Willems A, Torck U, Coopman R, Collins M D, Kersters K, Dreyfus B and Gillis M 1998a Allorhizobium undicola gen. nov., sp. nov., nitrogen-fixing bacteria that efficiently nodulate Neptunia natans in Senegal. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48, 1277–1290.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Lajudie P, Willems A, Nick G, Moreira F, Molouba F, Hoste B, Torck U, Neyra M, Collins M D, Lindström K, Dreyfus B and Gillis M 1998b Characterization of tropical tree rhizobia and description of Mesorhizobium plurifarium sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48, 369–382.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Lajudie P, Willems A, Pot B, Dewettinck D, Maestrojuan G, Neyra M, Collins M D, Dreyfus B, Kersters K and Gillis M 1994 Polyphasic taxonomy of rhizobia: Emendation of the genus Sinorhizobium and description of Sinorhizobium meliloti comb. nov., Sinorhizobium saheli sp. nov., and Sinorhizobium teranga sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44, 715–733.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Ley J 1974 Phylogeny of Prokaryotes. Taxon 23, 291–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Ley J and Rassel A 1965 DNA base composition, flagellation and taxonomy of the genus Rhizobium. J. Gen. Microbiol. 41, 85–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dreyfus B, Garcia J L and Gillis M 1988 Characterization of Azorhizobium caulinodans gen. nov., sp. nov., a stemnodulating nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from Sesbania rostrata. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 38, 89–98.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elkan G H and Bunn C R 1992 Chapter 107. The rhizobia. In The Prokaryotes. A handbook on the Biology of Bacteria: Ecophysiology, Isolation, Identification, Applications. Eds. A Balows, H G Trüper, M Dworkin, W Harder and K-H Schleifer. pp. 2197–2213. 2nd edition, Vol. III Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Euzéby J P 1998 Taxonomic note: Necessary correction of specific and subspecific epithets according to Rules 12c and 13b of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (1990 Revision). Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48, 1073–1075.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans W R, Fleischman D E, Calvert H E, Pyati R V, Alter G M and Subba Rao N S 1990 Bacteriochlorophyll and photosynthetic reaction centers in Rhizobium strain BTAi1. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56, 3445–3449.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farrand S K, van Berkum P B and Oger P 2003 Agrobacterium is a definable member of the family Rhizobiaceae. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 53, 1681–1687.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frank B, 1879 Ueber die Parasiten in den Wurzelanschwillungender Papilionaceen Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges. 37, 376–387 and 394–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank B 1889 Ueber die Pilzsymbiose der Leguminosen. Ber. Deut. Bot. Ges. 7, 332–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fred E B, Baldwin I L and McCoy E 1932 Root Nodule Bacteria and Leguminous Plants. University of Wisconsin Studies in Science, number 5. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao J-L, Turner S L, Kan F L, Wang E T, Tan Z Y, Qiu Y H, Gu1 J, Terefework Z, Young J P W, Lindström K and Chen W X 2004 Mesorhizobium septentrionale sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium temperatum sp. nov., isolated from Astragalus adsurgens growing in the northern regions of China. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54, 2003–2012.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh W and Roy P 2006 Mesorhizobium thiogangeticum sp. nov., a novel sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotroph from rhizosphere soil of an Indian tropical leguminous plant. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 56, 91–97.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graham P H 1963 Antigenic affinities of the root-nodule bacteria of legumes. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek J. Microbiol. Serol. 29, 281–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graham P H 1964 The application of computer techniques to the taxonomy of the root-nodule bacteria of legumes. J. Gen. Microbiol. 35, 511–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham P H, Sadowsky M J, Keyser H H, Barnet Y M, Bradley R S, Cooper J E, De Ley J, Jarvis B D W, Roslycky E B, Stijdom B W and Young J P W 1991 Proposed minimal standards for the description of new genera and species of root-and stem-nodulating bacteria. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 41, 582–587.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis B D W, Downer H L and Young J P W 1992 Phylogeny of fast-growing soybean-nodulating rhizobia supports synonymy of Sinorhizobium and Rhizobium and assignment to Rhizobium fredii. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 42, 93–96.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis B D W, Pankhurst C E and Patel J J 1982 Rhizobium loti, a new species of legume root nodule bacteria. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 32, 378–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis B D W, van Berkum P, Chen WX, Nour S M, Fernandez M P, Cleyet-Marel J C and Gillis M 1997 Transfer of Rhizobium loti, Rhizobium huakuii, Rhizobium ciceri, Rhizobium mediterraneum, and Rhizobium tianshanense to Mesorhizobium gen. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 47, 895–898.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan D C 1982 Transfer of Rhizobium japonicum Buchanan 1980 to Bradyrhizobium gen. nov., a genus of slow-growing, root nodule bacteria from leguminous plants. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 32, 136–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan D C 1984 Family III. Rhizobiaceae Conn 1938. In Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Eds. N Krieg and R G Holt. pp. 234–235. 1st edition, Vol. 1 The Williams & Wilkins Co, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jourand P, Giraud E, Béna G, Sy A, Willems A, Gillis M, Dreyfus B and de Lajudie P 2004 Methylobacterium nodulans sp. nov., for a group of aerobic, facultatively methylotrophic, legume root-nodule-forming and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54, 2269–2273.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Judicial Commission 1970 Opinion 33. Conservation of the generic name Agrobacterium Conn 1942. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol 20, 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kersters K and De Ley J 1984 Genus III. Agrobacterium Cohn 1942. In Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Eds. N Krieg and R G Holt. pp. 244–254. 1st edition, Vol. 1 The Williams & Wilkins Co, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuykendall L D, Saxena B, Devine T E and Udell S E 1992 Genetic diversity in Bradyrhizobium japonicum Jordan 1982 and a proposal for Bradyrhizobium elkanii sp. nov. Can. J. Microbiol. 38, 501–505.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuykendall L D, Young J M, Martínez-Romero E, Kerr A and Sawada H 2005 Genus I. Rhizobium Frank 1889, 338AL. In Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 2nd ed., Vol. 2, part C. Ed. GM Garrity. pp. 325–340. Springer, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lautrop H 1967 Agrobacterium spp. isolated from clinical specimens. Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. 187, 63–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindström K 1989 Rhizobium galegae, a new species of legume root nodule bacteria. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 39, 365–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Romero E, Segovia L, Martins Mercante F, Franco A A, Graham P and Pardo M A 1991 Rhizobium tropici, a novel species nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris L. Beans and Leucaena sp. trees. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 41, 417–426.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moffet M L and Colwell R R 1968 Adansonian analysis of the Rhizobiaceae. J. Gen. Microbiol. 51, 245–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molouba F, Lorquin J, Willems A, Hoste B, Giraud E, Dreyfus B, Gillis M, de Lajudie P and Masson-Boivin C 1999 Photosynthetic bradyrhizobia from Aeschynomene spp. are specific to stem-nodulated species and form a separate 16S ribosomal DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism group. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65, 3084–3094.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moulin L, Munive A, Dreyfus B and Boivin-Masson C 2001 Nodulation of legumes by members of the β-subclass of Proteobacteria. Nature 411, 948–950.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nick G, de Lajudie P, Eardly B D, Suomalainen S, Paulin L, Zhang X, Gillis M and Lindström K 1999 Sinorhizobium arboris sp. nov. and Sinorhizobium kostiense sp. nov., isolated from leguminous trees in Sudan and Kenya. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 49, 1359–1368.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nour S M, Cleyet-Marel J-C, Normand P and Fernandez M P 1995 Genomic heterogeneity of strains nodulating chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and description of Rhizobium mediterreaneum sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 45, 640–648.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nour S M, Fernandez M P, Normand P and Cleyet-Marel J-C 1994 Rhizobium ciceri sp. nov., consisting of strains that nodulate chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.). Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44, 511–522.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ophel K and Kerr A 1990 Agrobacterium vitis sp. nov. for strains of Agrobacterium biovar 3 from grapevines. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 40, 236–241.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng G X, Tan Z Y, Wang E T, Reinhold-Hurek B, Chen W F and Chen W X 2002 Identification of isolates from soybean nodules in Xinjiang region as Sinorhizobium xinjiangense and genetic differentiation of S. xinjiangense from Sinorhizobium fredii. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 52, 457–462.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popoff M Y, Kersters K, Kiredjian M, Miras I and Coynault C 1984 Position taxonomique de souches de Agrobacterium d’origine hospitalière. Ann. Microbiol. (Inst. Pasteur) 135A, 427–442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quan Z-X, Bae H-S, Baek J-H, Chen W-F, Im W-T and Lee S-T 2005 Rhizobium daejeonense sp. nov. isolated from a cyanide treatment bioreactor. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 55, 2543–2549.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasolomampianina R, Bailly X, Fetiarison R, Rabevohitra R, Bena G, Ramaroson L, Raherimandimby M, Moulin L, De Lajudie P, Dreyfus B and Avarre J C 2005 Nitrogen-fixing nodules from rose wood legume trees (Dalbergia spp.) endemic to Madagascar host seven different genera belonging to alpha-and beta-Proteobacteria. Mol. Ecol. 14, 4135–4146.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riley P S and Weaver R E 1977 Comparison of thirty-seven strains of Vd-3 bacteria with Agrobacterium radiobacter: Morphological and physiological observations. J. Clin. Microbiol. 5, 172–177.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas R, Willems A, Palomo J L, García-Benavides P, Mateos P F, Martínez-Molina E, Gillis M and Velázquez E 2004 Bradyrhizobium betae sp. nov., isolated from roots of Beta vulgaris affected by tumour-like deformations. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54, 1271–1275.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas R, Willems A, Subba-Rao N, Mateos P F, Dazzo F B, Martínez-Molina E, Gillis M and Velàzquez E 2003 Description of Devosia neptunia sp. nov. that nodulates and fixes nitrogen in symbiosis with Neptunia natans, an aquatic legume from India. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 26, 47–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rome S, Fernandez M P, Brunel B, Normand P and Cleyet-Marel J-C 1996 Sinorhizobium medicae sp. nov., isolated from annual Medicago spp. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 46, 972–980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sawada H, Ieki H, Oyaizu H and Matsumoto S 1993 Proposal for rejection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and revised descriptions for the genus Agrobacterium and for Agrobacterium radiobacter and Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 43, 694–702.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scholla M H and Elkan G H 1984 Rhizobium fredii sp. nov., a fast-growing species that effectively nodulates soybean. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 34, 484–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroeter J 1886 Schizomycetes. In Kryptogamenflora von Sclesien, Bd. 3, Heft 3, Pilze. Ed. Cohn. pp. 1–814. J U Kern’s Verlag, Breslau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segovia L, Young J P W and Martínez-Romero E 1993 Reclassification of American Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli type I strains as Rhizobium etli. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 43, 374–377.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skerman V B D, McGowan V and Sneath P H A 1980 Approved lists of bacterial names. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 30, 225–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprent J I 1995 Legume trees and shrubs in the tropics: N2 fixation in prespective. Soil Biol. Biochem. 27, 401–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Squartini A, Struffi P, Döring H, Selenska-Pobell S, Tola E, Giacomini A, Vendramin E, Velàzquez E, Mateos P F, Martínez-Molina E, Dazzo F B, Casella S and Nuti M P 2002 Rhizobium sullae sp. nov. (formerly ‘Rhizobium hedysari’), the root-nodule microsymbiont of Hedysarum coronarium L. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 52, 1267–1276.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Starr M P and Weiss J E 1943 Growth of phytopathogenic bacteria in a synthetic asparagine medium. Phytopathology 33, 314–318.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sy A, Giraud E, Jourand P, Garcia N, Willems A, de Lajudie P, Prin Y, Neyra M, Gillis M, Boivin-Masson C and Dreyfus B 2001 Methylotrophic Methylobacterium bacteria nodulate and fix nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes. J. Bacteriol. 183, 214–220.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan Z Y, Kan F L, Peng G X, Wang E T, Reinholdt-Hurek B and Chen W X 2001 Rhizobium yanglingense sp. nov., isolated from arid and semi-arid regions in China. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 909–914.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ’tMannetje L 1967 A re-examination of the taxonomy of the genus Rhizobium and related genera using numerical analysis. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek J. Microbiol. Serol. 33, 477–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toledo I, Lloret L and Martínez-Romero E 2003 Sinorhizobium americanus sp. nov., a new Sinorhizobium species nodulating native Acacia spp. in Mexico. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 26, 54–64.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trujillo M E, Willems A, Abril A, Planchuelo A-M, Rivas R, Ludeña D, Mateos P F, Martínez-Molina E and Velázquez E 2005 Nodulation of Lupinus by strains of Ochrobactrum lupini sp. nov. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71, 1318–1327.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trüper H G and De’Clari L 1997 Taxonomic note: necessary correction of specific epithets formed as substantives (nouns) “in apposition”. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 47, 908–909.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valverde A, Velázquez E, Fernández-Santos F, Vizcaíno N, Rivas R, Gillis M, Mateos P F, Martínez-Molina E, Igual J M and Willems 2005 Phyllobacterium trifolii sp. nov. nodulating Trifolium and Lupinus in Spanish soils. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 55, 1985–1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Berkum P, Beyene D, Bao G, Campbell T A and Eardly B D 1998 Rhizobium mongolense sp. nov. is one of three rhizobial genotypes identified which nodulate and form nitrogen-fixing symbioses with Medicago ruthenica [(L.) Ledebour]. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48, 13–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Berkum P and Eardly B D 2002 The aquatic budding bacterium Blastobacter denitrificans is a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Aeschynomene indica. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68, 1132–1136.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Berkum P, Leibold J M and Eardly B D 2006 Proposal for combining Bradyrhizobium spp. (Aeschynomene indica) with Blastobacter denitrificans and to transfer Blastobacter denitrificans (Hirsch and Muller, 1985) to the genus Bradyrhizobium as Bradyrhizobium denitrificans (comb. nov.). Syst. Appl Microbiol 29, 207–215.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vandamme P, Goris J, Chen W-M, De Vos P and Willems A 2003 Burkholderia tuberum sp. nov. and Burkholderia phymatum sp. nov., nodulate the roots of tropical legumes. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 25, 507–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandamme P, Pot B, Gillis M, De Vos P, Kersters K and Swings J 1996 Polyphasic taxonomy, a consensus approach to bacterial systematics. Microbiol. Rev. 60, 407–438.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Velázquez E, Igual J M, Willems A, Fernández M P, Muñoz E, Mateos P F, Abril A, Toro N, Normand P, Cervantes E, Gillis M and Martínez-Molina E 2001 Description of Mesorhizobium chacoense sp. nov., a novel species that nodulates Prosopis alba in the Chaco Arido region (Argentina). Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 1011–1021.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vermis K, Coenye T, LiPuma J J, Mahenthiralingam E, Nelis H J and Vandamme P 2004 Proposal to accommodate Burkholderia cepacia genomovar VI as Burkholderia dolosa sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54, 689–691.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent J M and Humphrey B A 1970 Taxonomically significant group antigens in Rhizobium. J. Gen. Microbiol. 63, 379–382.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vinuesa P, León-Barrios M, Silva C, Willems A, Jarabo-Lorenzo A, Pérez-Galdona R, Werner D and Martínez-Romero E 2005 Bradyrhizobium canariense sp. nov., an acid-tolerant endosymbiont that nodulates endemic genistoid legumes (Papilionoideae: Genisteae) from the Canary Islands, along with Bradyrhizobium japonicum bv. genistearum, Bradyrhizobium genospecies alpha and Bradyrhizobium genospecies beta. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 55, 569–575.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang E T, van Berkum P, Beyene D, Sui X H, Dorado O, Chen W X and Martínez-Romero E 1998 Rhizobium huautlense sp. nov., a symbiont of Sesbania herbacea that has a close phylogenetic relationship with Rhizobium galegae. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48, 687–699.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang E, Tan Z Y, Willems A, Fernández-López M, Reinhold-Hurek B and Martínez-Romero E 2002 Sinorhizobium morelense, sp. nov. a Leucaena leucocephala-associated bacterium that is highly resistant to multiple antibiotics. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 52, 1687–1693.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang E T, van Berkum P, Sui X H, Beyene D, Chen W X and Martínez-Romero E 1999 Diversity of rhizobia associated with Amorpha fruticosa isolated from Chinese soils and descritpion of Mesorhizobium amorphae sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 49, 51–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wei G H, Tan Z Y, Zhu M E, Wang E T, Han S Z and Chen W X 2003 Characterization of rhizobia isolated from legume species within the genera Astragalus and Lespedeza grown in the Loess Plateau of China and description of Rhizobium loessense sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 53, 1575–1583.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei G H, Wang E T, Tan Z Y, Zhu M E and Chen W X 2002 Rhizobium indigoferae sp. nov. and Sinorhizobium kummerowiae sp. nov., respectively isolated from Indigofera spp. and Kummerowia stipulaceae. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 52, 2231–2239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willems A, Coopman R and Gillis M 2001a Phylogenetic and DNA: DNA hybridization analyses of Bradyrhizobium species. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 111–117.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willems A, Coopman R and Gillis M 2001b Comparison of sequence analysis of 16S–23S spacer regions, AFLP analysis and DNA-DNA hybridizations in Bradyrhizobium. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 623–632.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willems A, Doignon-Bourcier F, Goris J, Coopman R, de Lajudie P, De Vos P and Gillis M 2001c DNA-DNA hybridization study of Bradyrhizobium strains. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 1315–1322.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willems A, Fernández-López M, Muñoz-Adelantado E, Goris J, De Vos P, Martínez-Romero E, Toro N and Gillis M 2003 Description of New Ensifer strains from nodules and proposal to transfer Ensifer adhaerens Cassida 1982 to Sinorhizobium as Sinorhizobium adhaerens comb. nov. Request for an Opinion. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 53, 1207–1217.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson J K 1944 Over five hundred reasons for abandoning the cross inoculation groups of legumes. Soil Sci. 58, 61–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu M L, Ge C, Cui Z, Li J and Fan H 1995 Bradyrhizobium liaoningense sp. nov., isolated from the root nodules of soybeans. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 45, 706–711.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao Z Y, Kan F L, Wang E T, Wei G H and Chen W X 2002 Characterization of rhizobia that nodulate legume species within the genus Lespedeza and description of Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 52, 2219–2230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young J M 2003 The genus name Ensifer Casida 1982 takes priority over Sinorhizobium Chen et al. 1988, and Sinorhizobium morelense Wang et al. 2002 is a later synonym of Ensifer adhaerens Casida 1982. Is the combination ’sinorhizobium adhaerens’ (Casida 1982) Willems et al. 2003 legitimate? Request for an Opinion. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 53, 2107–2110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young J M 2004 Renaming of Agrobacterium larrymoorei Bouzar and Jones 2001 as Rhizobium larrymoorei (Bouzar and Jones 2001) comb. nov. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54, 149.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young J M, Kuykendall L D, Martínez-Romero E, Kerr A and Sawada H 2001 A revision of Rhizobium Frank 1889, with an emended description of the genus, and the inclusion of all species of Agrobacterium Conn 1942 and Allorhizobium undicola de Lajudie et al. 1998 as new combinations:Rhizobium radiobacter, R. rhizogenes, R. rubi, R. undicola and R. vitis. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51, 89–103.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young J M, Pennycook S R and Watson DRW 2006 Proposal that Agrobacterium radiobacter has priority over Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Request for an Opinion. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 56, 491–493.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zakhia F, Jeder H, Willems A, Dreyfus B, de Lajudie P 2006 Diverse bacteria associated with root nodules of spontaneous legumes in Tunisia and first report for nifH-like gene within the genera Microbacterium and Starkeya. Microb. Ecol. 51, 375–393.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Microbiology (WE10), Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000, Gent, Belgium

    Anne Willems

Authors
  1. Anne Willems
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

E. Velázquez C. Rodríguez-Barrueco

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer

About this paper

Cite this paper

Willems, A. (2007). The taxonomy of rhizobia: an overview. In: Velázquez, E., Rodríguez-Barrueco, C. (eds) First International Meeting on Microbial Phosphate Solubilization. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 102. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5765-6_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation