Legume trees are symbiotically associated with rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi, microorganisms that improve their growth. The objective of this work was to characterize 61 rhizobial isolates from eight species of native legume trees: Acacia caven, Inga uruguensis, Lonchocarpus nitidus, Prosopis nigra, Sesbania virgata, Peltophorum dubium, Enterolobium contortisiliquum and Erythrina crista-galli. The strains were isolated from nodules with high nitrogenase activity and their growth rate, antibiotic, salinity and acidity resistances were determined. Their relationships were analyzed building a matrix with the resistance characteristics. Most of the isolates were fast growers and acid-producing with high level of exopolysaccharides. In general, isolates were erythromycin resistant but sensitive to rifampicin. All the isolates grew well at pH 5.5 while 75% did so at pH 4.4. More than 60% of the isolates grew in 2% of NaCl but this declined to 21% of the isolates in 3% NaCl. This population showed high antibiotic, salinity and pH resistance, suggesting adaptability to major ecological environment stresses, and great saprohytic competence within soil environments. Isolates from the same host showed high homology between them.