Isolation, identification and characterization of phenolic acid-degrading bacteria from soil

Aims To isolate, identify and characterize phenolic acid-degrading bacteria and reduce plant growth inhibition caused by phenolic acids. Methods and Results A total of 11 bacterial isolates with high phthalic acid (PA)-degrading ability were obtained using mineral salt medium (MSM) medium containing PA as sole carbon source. These isolates were identified as Arthrobacter globiformis, Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas hunanensis by sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA gene. Among them, five Pseudomonas strains could also effectively degrade ferulic acid (FA), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) and syringic acid (SA) in MSM solution. P. putida strain 7 and P. hunanensis strain 10 showed highly efficient degradation of PA, SA, FA and PHBA, and could reduce their inhibition of lily, watermelon, poplar and strawberry seedling growth in soils respectively. These two strains could promote plant growth in soil with phenolic acids. Conclusions In this study, bacterial strains with highly efficient phenolic acid-degrading abilities could not only effectively reduce the autotoxicity of phenolic acids on plants but also were able to promote plant growth in soil with phenolic acids. Significance and Impact of the Study In this study, Pseudomonas can promote plant growth while degrading phenolic acids. Our results provide new choices for the biological removal of autotoxins.