Genetic Diversity of Rhizobia Isolated from the Legume Genera Astragalus, Oxytropis and Onobrychis

The legume genera Astragalus and Oxytropis belong to the tribe Galegae. These legumes are common in Arctic and Temperate climatic zones. Previous studies based on cross-inoculation experiments and numerical taxonomy (Prevost et al., 1987; Novikova et al., 1993; 1994) suggested that the rhizobia associated with these legumes were closely related. Also the legume species Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin, tribe Hedysareae) was effectively nodulated by rhizobia isolated from Astragalus and Oxytropis spp. (Prevost et al., 1987). Rhizobia isolated from A. sinicus were classified in a new species, Mesorhizobium huakuii, (Chen et al., 1991; Jarvis et al., 1997). Other rhizobia from Astragalus and Ox…