ABSTRACT
Rhizobia are bacteria inducing the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules on legumes. Rhizobia (J1, J4, J5, J6, J9, J10 and J11) has been isolated from five areas around Jember (Keranjingan 1, Keranjingan 2, Keranjingan 3, Wirolegi and Mastrip), and from two variety of soybean (local and edamame). Morphology characteristics of coloni rhizobia indicated a wild type. Physiological characteristics of rhizobia indicated that rhizobia are resistance to penicillin
and sensitive to ampicyllin, streptomycin, tetracycline dan chloramphenicol. They are viable to
grow in pH 4 dan pH 9, except for J5 and J6. The optimum growth of rhizobia is in NaCl 2%, except for J5 and J9. Gelatinase activity of rhizobia indicated a negative activity. Rhizobia J4 is viable of inducing the root nodules on siratro plants.
Key words: rhizobia, nitrogen fixing, characterization, isolation