Characterization of rhizobial isolates of Phaseolus vulgaris by staircase electrophoresis of low-molecular-weight RNA

Low-molecular-weight (LMW) RNA molecules were analyzed to characterize rhiz obial isolates that nodulate the common bean growing in Spain. Since LMW RN A profiles, determined by staircase electrophoresis, varied across the rhiz obial species nodulating beans, we demonstrated that bean isolates recovere d from Spanish soils presumptively could be characterized as Rhizobium etli , Rhizobium gallicum, Rhizobium giardinii, Rhizobium leguminosarum by. vici ae and by. trifolii, and Sinorhizobium fredii.