Rhizobiaceae


The Rhizobiaceae is a family of proteobacteria comprising multiple subgroups that enhance and hinder plant development. Some bacteria found in the family are used for plant nutrition and collectively make up the rhizobia. Other bacteria such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes severely alter the development of plants in their ability to induce crown galls or hairy roots found on the stem. The family has been of an interest to scientists for centuries in their ability to associate with plants and modify plant development. The Rhizobiaceae are, like all Proteobacteria, Gram-negative. They are aerobic, and the cells are usually rod-shaped. Many species of the Rhizobiaceae are diazotrophs which are able to fix nitrogen and are symbiotic with plant roots.

Relation to ''Agrobacterium''

Agrobacterium has been recognized as being related to the Rhizobium. Evidence supporting the association was conducted by phylogentic inferences based on 16S rDNA sequence analyses showing the genera could not be distinguished as separate monophyletic clades.

Phylogeny

The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature and the National Center for Biotechnology Information,
and the phylogeny is based on 16S rRNA-based LTP release 106 by The All-Species Living Tree Project