Name: Ensifer kummerowiae (Wei et al. 2002) Young 2003

Category: Species

Proposed as: comb. nov.

Basonym: Sinorhizobium kummerowiae Wei et al. 2002

Etymology: kum.me.ro’wi.ae. N.L. gen. fem. n. kummerowiae, of Kummerowia, a genus of leguminous plants, referring to the host from which the bacterium was isolated

Pronunciation (Latin), gender: EN-si-fer kum-me-RO-wi-a͡e, masculine

Type strain: CCBAU 71714; CGMCC 1.3046; CIP 108026; NBRC 100799

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: AF364067 Analyse FASTA

Valid publication: Young JM. The genus name Ensifer Casida 1982 takes priority over Sinorhizobium Chen et al. 1988, and Sinorhizobium morelense Wang et al. 2002 is a later synonym of Ensifer adhaerens Casida 1982. Is the combination "Sinorhizobium adhaerens" (Casida 1982) Willems et al. 2003 legitimate? Request for an Opinion. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2003; 53:2107-2110. 🇳🇿

IJSEM list: Euzeby JP. Notification list. Notification that new names and new combinations have appeared in volume 53, part 6 of the IJSEM. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2004; 54:309-311.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: synonym

Correct name: Ensifer meliloti (Dangeard 1926) Young 2003

Risk group: 1

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Sinorhizobium meliloti (Dangeard 1926) De Lajudie et al. 1994	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Rhizobium meliloti Dangeard 1926 (Approved Lists 1980)	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Sinorhizobium kummerowiae Wei et al. 2002	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Ensifer meliloti (Dangeard 1926) Young 2003	heterotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • ⏲ According to Menendez et al. (2024), this species is a later heterotypic synonym of Ensifer meliloti (Dangeard 1926) Young 2003. Publication: Menendez E, Flores-Felix JD, Kaur S, diCenzo GC, Young JPW, Peix A, Velazquez E. Reclassification of type strains of Rhizobium indigoferae and Sinorhizobium kummerowiae into the species Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti, respectively. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:6451. 🇪🇸
  • ⏲ According to Menendez et al. (2024), this species is a later heterotypic synonym of Rhizobium meliloti Dangeard 1926 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Menendez E, Flores-Felix JD, Kaur S, diCenzo GC, Young JPW, Peix A, Velazquez E. Reclassification of type strains of Rhizobium indigoferae and Sinorhizobium kummerowiae into the species Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti, respectively. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:6451. 🇪🇸
  • ⏲ According to Menendez et al. (2024), this species is a later heterotypic synonym of Sinorhizobium meliloti (Dangeard 1926) De Lajudie et al. 1994. Publication: Menendez E, Flores-Felix JD, Kaur S, diCenzo GC, Young JPW, Peix A, Velazquez E. Reclassification of type strains of Rhizobium indigoferae and Sinorhizobium kummerowiae into the species Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti, respectively. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:6451. 🇪🇸
  • 🏢 Synonymy of this taxon was mentioned in an IJSEM list. Publication: Oren A, Göker M. Notification list. Notification that new names and new combinations have appeared in volume 74, part 7 of the IJSEM. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:6494.
  • ❗ Ensifer kummerowiae is the correct name instead if this species is regarded as a separate species (i.e., if its nomenclatural type is not assigned to another species whose name is validly published, legitimate and not rejected and has priority) within a separate genus Ensifer.
  • 😷 The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 1. — The risk group for Germany has been imported on 2026-08-13. The full classification is: risk group = 1. — If in doubt, use the risk group given in the regulations for your country and, if these are not available, use the risk group given in the catalogue of the culture collection from which you have obtained or intend to obtain the strain.
  • 🎓 Name mentioned 2 times in PubMed until 2026-06-11.
  • 🧍 According to Rules 27(3) and 30, this name is not validly published, because the original publication makes reference to the deposit of the type strain in a single recognized culture collection. However, according to the Judicial Opinion 81, Ensifer kummerowiae (Wei et al. 2002) Young 2003 is considered to be validly published, since deposit in a second culture collection in a different country has been documented. Publication: Euzeby JP, Tindall BJ. Status of strains that contravene Rules 27(3) and 30 of the Bacteriological Code. Request for an opinion. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2004; 54:293-301. 🇫🇷

Parent taxon: Ensifer Casida 1982

Assigned by: Young JM. The genus name Ensifer Casida 1982 takes priority over Sinorhizobium Chen et al. 1988, and Sinorhizobium morelense Wang et al. 2002 is a later synonym of Ensifer adhaerens Casida 1982. Is the combination "Sinorhizobium adhaerens" (Casida 1982) Willems et al. 2003 legitimate? Request for an Opinion. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2003; 53:2107-2110. 🇳🇿

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Record number: 783766