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Sulfate‐reducing bacteria were enumerated in soils and water samples from Senegal ricefields using lactate and sulfate as substrates. When rice plants were severely injured by sulfides, maximum densities ranged from 107 to 109 bacteria g−1 of dry spermosphere or rhizosphere soil. Seven non‐sporulating, mesophilic strains were isolated. The strains had motile curved cells and stained Gram‐negative. Lactate, pyruvate, H2+ CO2, malate, fumarate, or ethanol could serve as electron donors. Organic acids were incompletely oxidized to acetate. Alcohols were degraded to the corresponding fatty acids. Sulfate, sulfite, or thiosulfate could serve as electron acceptors and were reduced to sulfide. Vitamins, yeast extract, Biotrypcase, or additional NaCl were not required for growth. On the basis of morphological and physiological properties, and the G + C mol % of the DNA, six isolates were identified as Desulfovibrio vulgaris and one as Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. The comparison of their main physiological properties with the physico‐chemical properties of sampling sites indicated that they were better adapted to conditions prevailing in the rice rhizosphere than to those prevailing in the bulk of soil.

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