FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 91, 2015 doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiu024 Advance Access Publication Date: 8 December 2014 Research Article RESEARCH ARTICLE Symbiotic diversity, specificity and distribution of rhizobia in native legumes of the Core Cape Subregion (South Africa) Benny Lemaire1,2,∗, Oscar Dlodlo1, Samson Chimphango1, Charles Stirton1, Brian Schrire3, James S. Boatwright4, Olivier Honnay2,ErikSmets2,5, Janet Sprent6,EuanK.James7 and Abraham M. Muasya1 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa, 2Plant Conservation and Population Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, PO Box 2435, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium, 3Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK, 4Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa, 5Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands, 6Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at JHI, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK and 7The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK ∗ Corresponding author: Plant Conservation and Population Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, PO Box 02435, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium. Tel: +32-16-32-86-36; Fax: +32 16 32 19 68; E-mail:
[email protected] One sentence summary: This study is the most comprehensive phylogenetic assessment of rhizobia within the Fynbos biome, showing that legumes are specifically associated with Burkholderia and Mesorhizobium, the latter underestimated within Fynbos soils. Editor: Angela Sessitsch ABSTRACT Rhizobial diversity and host preferences were assessed in 65 native Fynbos legumes of the papilionoid legume tribes Astragaleae, Crotalarieae, Genisteae, Indigofereae, Millettieae, Phaseoleae, Podalyrieae, Psoraleeae and Sesbanieae.