Two Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strains, FH13T and FH23, representing a novel group of Rhizobium isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris in Mexico, were studied by a polyphasic analysis. Phylogeny of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed them to be members of the
Medicago sativa L. is one of the most important perennial forage crops and has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years in China. A previously unreported sprout wilt disease of M. sativa, affecting as much as 25% of the seedlings, was observed in northwest China (Gansu Province) in March 2011.