Updating the description of Rhizobium diversity associated with common bean cultivars in the Ecuadorian Andes: A phylogenetic and functional perspective.

ABSTRACT: Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) is nodulated by diverse Rhizobium species. Although Ecuador is recognized as one of the centers of bean diversification, its native rhizobial diversity and geographic distribution remains poorly characterized. We isolated 46 native Rhizobium strains from root nodules across four Andean provinces (Imbabura, Pichincha, Chimborazo, and Loja). Partial sequencing of the recA gene delineated nine strain clusters (R1-R9) within two major phylogenetic groups: (i) Rhizobium ecuadorense/Rhizobium leguminosarum/Rhizobium etli/Rhizobium phaseoli and (ii) R. tropici. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of the housekeeping genes recA, glnII, dnaK genes from 19 representative isolates showed four phylogenetic clusters (C1-C4). Cluster C1 (R. ecuadorense-related) predomina

SUBMITTER: Leon-Cadena A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12758762 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature