Symbiotic and non-symbiotic species of the genus Ensifer

In this study, we aimed to provide an extensive comparative genomic and phenotypic characterization of the bacterial genus Ensifer, which contains species that are legume nitrogen-fixing symbionts as well as species that are not nitrogen-fixing symbionts. Major goals of the study included evaluating the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixation with this genus, and to determine whether there is genomic, phenotypic, and phylogenetic separation of the symbiotic and non-symbiotic members of this genus. To provide increased representation of the diversity of the genus, we generated draft genomes of four new strains: Ensifer morelense Lc04, Ensifer sesbaniae CCBAU 65729, Ensifer psoraleae CCBAU 65732, and Ensifer morelense Lc18.