Data from: A genetic discontinuity in root-nodulating bacteria of cultivated pea in the Indian trans-Himalayas

Evolutionary relationships of 120 root-nodulating bacteria isolated from the nodules of Pisum sativum cultivated at 22 different locations of the trans-Himalayan valleys of Lahaul and Spiti in the state of Himachal Pradesh of India were studied using 16S rRNA gene PCR-RFLP, ERIC-PCR, sequencing of 16S rRNA, atpD, recA, nodC and nifH genes, carbon-source utilization pattern (BIOLOG™), and whole-cell fatty acid profiling. The results demonstrated that all isolates belonged to Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar viciae (Rlv). Isolates from the two valleys were clearly separated on the basis of ERIC fingerprints, carbon-source utilization pattern, and whole-cell fatty acid methyl esters. Phylogenetic analysis of atpD, recA, nodC and nifH genes revealed a common Rlv sublineage in Spiti valley. Lahaul valley isolates were represented by 3 sequence types of atpD and recA genes, and four sequence types of nodC and nifH genes. Genotypes from the two valleys were completely distinct, except for two Lahaul isolates that shared nodC and nifH sequences with Spiti isolates but were otherwise more similar to other Lahaul isolates. Isolates from the two highest Spiti valley sites (above 4000m) had a distinctive whole-cell fatty acid profile. Spiti valley isolates are closely related to Rlv sublineages from Xinjiang and Shanxi provinces in China, while Lahaul valley isolates resemble cosmopolitan strains of the western world. The high mountain pass between these valleys represents a boundary between two distinct microbial populations.本研究对从印度喜马偕尔邦拉豪尔与斯皮蒂跨喜马拉雅山谷22个不同栽培点位的豌豆（Pisum sativum）根瘤中分离得到的120株根瘤菌，采用16S rRNA基因PCR-RFLP、ERIC-PCR、16S rRNA及atpD、recA、nodC、nifH基因测序、碳源利用模式（BIOLOG™）以及全细胞脂肪酸谱分析等手段，开展了进化关系研究。研究结果表明，所有分离菌株均隶属于豌豆根瘤菌豌豆共生型（Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar viciae，简称Rlv）。基于ERIC指纹图谱、碳源利用模式及全细胞脂肪酸甲酯谱，两个山谷的分离菌株可被显著区分。对atpD、recA、nodC与nifH基因的系统发育分析显示，斯皮蒂山谷存在一个共有的Rlv进化亚支系。拉豪尔山谷的分离菌株可分为3种atpD和recA基因序列型，以及4种nodC和nifH基因序列型。两个山谷的菌株基因型完全迥异，仅有两株拉豪尔分离菌株与斯皮蒂分离菌株共享nodC和nifH基因序列，但其余性状与其他拉豪尔菌株更为相近。采自斯皮蒂山谷两处海拔4000米以上最高采样点位的分离菌株，具有独特的全细胞脂肪酸谱。斯皮蒂山谷的分离菌株与中国新疆维吾尔自治区及山西省的Rlv进化亚支系亲缘关系密切，而拉豪尔山谷的分离菌株则与西方世界的广分布菌株相似。两个山谷间的高海拔山口，构成了两个截然不同的微生物种群之间的分界。