Selection of photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides 14F for polyhydroxyalkanoate production with two-stage aerobic dark cultivation.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production abilities in a two-stage aerobic dark culture of photosynthetic bacteria were investigated at relatively high temperatures (37-40 degrees C). A 14F strain, identified as Rhodobacter sphaeroides, showed the highest PHA production (3.5 g/l PHA with 60% PHA content). Its productivity was 2-3 times higher than those of other photosynthetic bacteria.