Full text loading...
Abstract
The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with soybeans (Glycine max) have been classified routinely as Rhizobium japonicum. DNA:DNA hybridization studies were conducted to estimate the genetic relationships of strains labelled as R. japonicum to clarify their taxonomic status. Reassociation reactions were carried out using DNA from various Rhizobium and Agrobacterium species. Relationships of DNA sequences were also estimated by comparing the thermal stability of heterologous DNA duplexes with that of the homologous DNA duplex. The results indicated that strains labelled as R. japonicum can be separated into at least three DNA homology groups. Reference strains of other Rhizobium species, with the exception of R. lupini, were not closely related to these homology groups.
- Received:
- Revised:
- Published Online: