Morphology and general characteristics of phages specific for Astragalus cicer rhizobia.

Three newly isolated phages, K1, K2, and C1, specific for A. cicer rhizobia were characterized by their morphology, host range, rate of adsorption, restriction endonuclease patterns, and DNA molecular weights. All three phages were classified to the morphological group B of Bradley's (Siphoviridae family) on the basis of presence of hexagonal in outline heads and long noncontractile tails. Phages K1, K2, and C1 are related by host range and restriction endonuclease patterns. The molecular weights of phage DNAs estimated from restriction enzyme digests were in the range from 64.6 kb to 68.5 kb.