Abstract
Strains of a pink-pigmented Methylobacterium sp. are effective nitrogen- (N2) fixing microsymbionts of species of the African crotalarioid genus Listia. Strain WSM2598 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod isolated in 2002 from a Listia bainesii root nodule collected at Estcourt Research Station in South Africa. Here we describe the features of Methylobacterium sp. WSM2598, together with information and annotation of a high-quality draft genome sequence. The 7,669,765 bp draft genome is arranged in 5 scaffolds of 83 contigs, contains 7,236 protein-coding genes and 18 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 G enomic E ncyclopedia for B acteria and A rchaea- R oot N odule B acteria (GEBA-RNB) project.
Highlights
Nodulated legumes are important and established components of Australian agricultural systems: the value of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) fixed by rhizobia in symbiotic association with these legumes is estimated to be worth more than $2 billion annually [1,2]
We have identified a suite of South African perennial, herbaceous forage legumes, including several species in the crotalarioid genus Listia
* Correspondence: W.Reeve@murdoch.edu.au 1Centre for Rhizobium Studies, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia Full list of author information is available at the end of the article [7], that are potentially welladapted to the arid climate and acid, infertile soils of the target agricultural areas
Summary
Nodulated legumes are important and established components of Australian agricultural systems: the value of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) fixed by rhizobia in symbiotic association with these legumes is estimated to be worth more than $2 billion annually [1,2]. Unlike the methylotrophic Methylobacterium nodulans, which nodulates some species of Crotalaria [13], the Listia methylobacteria are unable to utilize methanol as a sole carbon source [14]. A pigmented Methylobacterium strain, WSM2598, isolated from a root nodule of L. bainesii cv “Miles” in South Africa in 2002, was found to be a highly effective nitrogen fixing microsymbiont of both L. bainesii and Listia heterophylla (previously Lotononis listii) [10].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
