Degradation of dibenzofuran by Pseudomonas putida Ph-01

The ability of a Pseudomonas putida PH-01 to degrade the dioxin-like compound dibenzofuran was characterized and the effect of extracellular substance produced during the incubation was determined. The strain grew aerobically on dibenzofuran as the sole source of carbon and energy, and the solubility of dibenzofuran was rapidly increased with the appearance of those extracellular substances. During the incubation, production of salicylic acid, catechol, gentisic acid, and other unidentified trace metabolic products was observed. After six days of incubation, catechol accumulated mainly in the culture medium.