Phylogenetic analysis of the genera Azorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobum and Sinorhizobium on the basis of internally transcribed spacer region

The phylogenetic relationships for 33 strains belonging to the genera Azorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium were conducted by the sequence analyses of the ITS regions. The sequence homologies of these strains showed the high variations(28.0 - 94.9%). According to the phylogenetic analysis of ITS regions. 37 ITS clones from 33 strains of 32 species were classified into four groups. Group I included all strains of the genus Sinorhizobium as core members and R. giardinii as a peripheral member. The genus Rhizobium strains were clustered into group II which was very heterogeneous and the tree toplogy of this group were very unstable. Among the members of group II. the taxonomic position of R. radiobacter and R. rubi was not clearly identified on the basis of ITS I regions. R. undicola and R. vitis were remotely related with other Rhizobium strains including R. leguminosarum, R. galegae, R. gallicum, R. mongolense, R. tropici, R. hainanense, R. rhizogense and R. huautlense of group II were supposed to be loosely related to R. leguminosarum. While the stains of the genera Bradyrhizobium constituted group III with Azorhizobium caulindans, the strains of the genus Mesorhizobium formed group IV on the relatively high sequence homology level.