Name: "Metarhizobium" Ma et al. 2023

Category: Genus

Proposed as: gen. nov.

Etymology: Me.ta.rhi.zo’bi.um. Gr. adv. meta, besides; N.L. neut. n. Rhizobium, a bacterial generic name; N.L. neut. n. Metarhizobium, a genus besides Rhizobium

Gender, pronunciation (Latin): neuter (stem: Metarhizobi-), me-ta-r^hi-ZO-bi-um

Type species: "Metarhizobium album" (Hang et al. 2025) Ma et al. 2023

Original publication: Ma T, Xue H, Piao C, Jiang N, Li Y. Phylogenomic reappraisal of the family Rhizobiaceae at the genus and species levels, including the description of Ectorhizobium quercum gen. nov., sp. nov. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1207256. 🇨🇳

Nomenclatural status: not validly published

Taxonomic status: synonym (and no standing)

Correct name: Rhizobium Frank 1889 (Approved Lists 1980)

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Velazquezella Naranjo-Robayo et al. 2026	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Rhizobium Frank 1889 (Approved Lists 1980)	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP, conserved name
    Phytoamicus Van Lill et al. 2026	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Limnomicrobium Naranjo-Robayo et al. 2026	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Martinezella Naranjo-Robayo et al. 2026	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Arminella Naranjo-Robayo et al. 2026	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Paenirhizobium Ma et al. 2025	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Peteryoungia Rahi et al. 2021	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • 🚂 For the type species of this genus another name is in use, which is affiliated with the genus Rhizobium Frank 1889 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Hang P, Zhang L, Zhou XY, Hu Q, Jiang JD. Rhizobium album sp. nov., isolated from a propanil-contaminated soil. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2019; 112:319-327. 🇨🇳
  • 😢 The terminology used by the authors is in line with many other taxonomic studies and does not negatively affect their main results; some improvements may nevertheless be possible. Contrasting the term "chemotaxonomic" with "phenotypic" is not recommended. The phrase "validly described" is misleading. See the LPSN phylogeny page for details. Publication: Göker M. What can genome analysis offer for bacteria? In: Bridge P, Smith D, Stackebrandt E (eds), Trends in the systematics of bacteria and fungi, CAB International, Wallingford, 2021, p. 255-281. 🇬🇧
  • 🎰 The BRCs most frequently used for deposits in this group are: CCTCC: 1; KCTC: 1.

Subdivision:

Number of child taxa with a validly published and correct name: 0
Number of child taxa with a validly published name, including synonyms: 0
Total number of child taxa: 1

• Child taxa:

  • Name	Nomenclatural status	Taxonomic status
    "Metarhizobium album" (Hang et al. 2025) Ma et al. 2023	not validly published	synonym

Parent taxon: Rhizobiaceae Conn 1938 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Ma T, Xue H, Piao C, Jiang N, Li Y. Phylogenomic reappraisal of the family Rhizobiaceae at the genus and species levels, including the description of Ectorhizobium quercum gen. nov., sp. nov. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1207256. 🇨🇳

Linking: To permanently link to this page, use https://doi.org/10.83108/rn.40003Copy to clipboardLink copied to clipboard

Record number: 40003

• Previous versions:

  • Version	Date	JSON
    1	2026-03-31