Three unique Ethiopian rhizobial strains identified in our earlier project and six reference strains isolated elsewhere are being sequenced in collaboration with the department of energy joint genome institute (JGI), USA. The genome sequences will be analyzed and used for describing three new rhizobial species. The new species are represented by one bean-nodulating strain and one non-symbiotic, plant endophytic strain in genus Rhizobium and a symbiont of Erythrina brucei in genus Bradyrhizobium. In addition, the phenotypic data, carbon source utilization ability of the bacteria, which was done using Biolog tool will be used as criteria for the species description.