Agrobacterium bv. 1 strains isolated from nodules of tropical legumes

Bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of various legumes, mainl y trees, from different places in Africa. Polyphasic taxonomy, including nu merical analysis of comparative whole-cell protein patterns obtained by sod ium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), 16S rRNA gene sequencing, auxanographic tests (API 50), and DNA:DNA hybridizations indicated that these strains belonged to Agrobacterium biovar 1. These stra ins were not capable of inducing any nodule or tumor formation on plants. N o PCR amplification was observed using nif H primers, suggesting that they do not carry symbiotic genes. Biological implications of the presence of Ag robacterium in nodules are discussed.