Abstract
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in legumes plays a critical role in improving soil fertility. Despite this vital role, there is limited information on the genetic diversity and BNF of bacteria nodulating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). This study evaluated the genetic diversity and symbiotic nitrogen fixation of bacteria nodulating common bean in soils of Western Kenya. The genetic diversity was determined using 16S rRNA gene partial sequences while BNF was estimated in a greenhouse experiment. The sequences of the native isolates were closely affiliated with members from the genera Pantoea, Klebsiella, Rhizobium, Enterobacter and Bacillus. These results show that apart from rhizobia, there are non-rhizobial strains in the nodules of common bean. The symbiotic efficiency (SE) of native isolates varied and exhibited comparable or superior BNF compared to the local commercial inoculants (CIAT 899 and Strain 446). Isolates (MMUST 003 [KP027691], MMUST 004 [KP027687], MMUST 005 [KP027688], KSM 001 [KP027682], KSM 002 [KP027680], KSM 003 [KP027683] and KSM 005 [KP027685]) recorded equal or significantly higher SE (p < 0.05) compared to N supplemented treatments. The results demonstrate the presence of genetic diversity of native bacteria nodulating bean that are effective in N fixation. These elite bacterial strains should be exploited as candidates for the development of Phaseolus vulgaris inoculants.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Native common bean nodule isolates were affiliated with five bacterial genera.
- Outcome
- sequences of the native isolatese0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The sequences of the native isolates were closely affiliated with members from the genera Pantoea, Klebsiella, Rhizobium, Enterobacter and Bacillus.”
Claim · model-written summary
Non-rhizobial strains occurred in common bean nodules.
- Taxon
- common bean
Phaseolus vulgarise0 - Outcome
- non-rhizobial strains in the nodulese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“there are non-rhizobial strains in the nodules of common bean”
Claim · model-written summary
Native isolates varied in symbiotic efficiency.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The symbiotic efficiency (SE) of native isolates varied”
Claim · model-written summary
Native isolates had comparable or superior nitrogen fixation to commercial inoculants.
- Outcome
- BNFe0
- Direction
- comparable or superiore0
- Comparator
- local commercial inoculants (CIAT 899 and Strain 446)e0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“exhibited comparable or superior BNF compared to the local commercial inoculants (CIAT 899 and Strain 446)”
Claim · model-written summary
Seven named isolates had equal or significantly higher symbiotic efficiency than N supplementation.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Isolates (MMUST 003 [KP027691], MMUST 004 [KP027687], MMUST 005 [KP027688], KSM 001 [KP027682], KSM 002 [KP027680], KSM 003 [KP027683] and KSM 005 [KP027685]) recorded equal or significantly higher SE (p < 0.05) compared to N supplemented treatments.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend elite strains as common bean inoculant candidates.
- Taxon
- Phaseolus vulgaris
Phaseolus vulgarise0 - Outcome
- candidates for the development of Phaseolus vulgaris inoculantse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“These elite bacterial strains should be exploited as candidates for the development of Phaseolus vulgaris inoculants.”