TABLE 1.

Bacterial strains used in this study

Strains	Medium	Reference	Growth rate (doubling time [h])
Escherichia coli DH5α	LB	23
Sinorhizobium meliloti
1021	TA	7	3.3
2011	TA	19	2.7
Sinorhizobium fredii USDA 205	YEM	24	4.2
Mesorhizobium loti 2037	YEB	17	3.6
Bradyrhizobium lupini 2257	B	17	13