Abstract: 【Objective】 The biodiversity of rhizobia from Glycyrrhiza spp. in northern regions of China was studied. 【Method】Twenty isolates from Glycyrrhiza spp. were characterized by numerical taxonomy, 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP analysis and BOX-PCR fingerprinting to describe the phenotypic and genetic diversity.【Result】There were two clusters at 85% similarity by numerical taxonomy and 11 strains are separate from reference strains. Fourteen genotypes of tested strains were obtained from the tested 20 strains and analyzed by 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP. The diversity of genomic level was described by BOX-PCR fingerprinting.【Conclusion】 All analyzed results of analysis desmonstrated that the symbiotic bacteria associated with Glycyrrhiza spp. could be found in the genera of Sinorhizobium, Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium.

Key words: rhizobia, numerical taxonomy, 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP, BOX-PCR fingerprinting