Abstract:

Sixty-six rhizobial strains, isolated from root nodules of fifty-one species of woody legumes (five genera in subfamily Mimosoideae and eighteen genera in subfamily Papilionoideae) in East China, were studied by performing a fuzzy analysis of 42 phenotypic characteristics. Six clusters were formed below the boundary level of 0.75 average distance except 92-78-2 strain. We consider that six clusters should belong to the fast growers and slow growers. However, the properties of the two growers are correspond incompletely with the differential characters of the 4 genera in the rhizobial taxonomic system, for example, some strains can utilize starch as the sole carbon source. The results of numerical analysis also suggest that the primary basis of the division of the clusters is the phenotypic characteristics, and has nothing to do with the category and origin of the hosts. Our results indicate that tree rhizobia are very diverse with respect to their physiological and biochemical properties.

Key words: East China, Rhizobia from woody legumes, Diversity