Rhizobium galegae, a New Species of Legume Root Nodule Bacteria

Studies of root nodule bacteria isolated from Galega orientalis and Galega officinalis are reviewed, and as a result a new species, Rhizobium galegae, is proposed. The type strain of the species is R. galegae HAMBI 540 (= ATCC 43677), which forms nitrogen-fixing root nodules on G. orientalis. Deoxyribonucleic acid homology distinguishes R. galegae from other rhizobia, whereas nodulation of Galega sp. and sensitivity to phage gal 1/R phenotypically separate the strains currently included in the species from other members of the genus Rhizobium. Other criteria supporting the formation of a new species include ribosomal ribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid homology data, protein and lipopolysaccharide patterns, serological properties, and numerical taxonomy data.