Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of effective Rhizobium sp associated with beans cultivated in Brazilian cerrado soils

Efficient bean nodulating Rhizobium strains, isolated from different Brazil ian cerrado soils, were characterized by RAPD. This study showed great gene tic heterogeneity among R. tropici and R, leguminosarum bv. phaseoli strain s and allowed the constitution of genetic clusters, besides indicating the most suitable primers for this characterization. The groups of genetically distinct strains can be used in competitiveness studies to select appropria te Rhizobium strains for bean inoculation in cerrado soils.