Genome Sequencing and Assembly of Mesorhizobium found in Chickpea Farms in Pakistan
This study focuses on the genome and genomic island properties of indigenous Chickpea symbionts found in the Thal Desert region of Pakistan, one of the most extreme environments for chickpea production. Stress tolerant rhizobia might confer adaptations for crop productivity under arid conditions. In this study, the genome sequences of four previously unidentified Mesorhizobium species are provided. These species exhibit variations and diversity within the overall Mesorhizobium genome. However, all of them share a common orthologous symbiosis island, which enables nodulation in the chickpea host. Interestingly, the chickpea symbionts identified in the arid soils of Pakistan represent distinct and novel lineages, representing at least four new species. This diversity sets them apart from the Mesorhizobium spp. reported in previous agricultural collections.