To resolve taxonomic difficulties within the genus Rhizobium L a n g e is suggested the derivation of a variety of tests by which the root-nodule bacteria could be characterised, and the use of these tests in the comparison of strains by computer analysis. 26 Routine identification of strains by this method is impracticable for many Rhizobium research workers. On the other hand, infective properties alone frequently fail to give adequate differentiation of the species of root-nodule bacteria a 18 21 g8The results obtained from a computative classification of the root-nodule bacteria were used by G r a h a m 9 to propose taxonomic changes in the genus Rhizobium. It was apparent that some currently favoured diagnostic features were of less value in rhizobial classification than other characters which are not normally considered An assessment of these features, and of other properties of the rootnodule bacteria is reported in this paper. MATERIALS AND METHODS OrganismsThe e x p e r i m e n t s r e p o r t e d here were carried out w i t h 97 different strains of bacteria. Of these 79 strains belonged to the genus Rhizobium and 18 to t h e genus Agrobacterium. The rhizobiM strains were selected for h o s t p l a n t differences and for the geographical diversity of their origin. All strains were p l a n t t e s t e d on their homologous hosts prior to their inclusion in the s t u d y sample.

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