Isolation and characterization of soil microorganisms capable of utilizing the herbicide diclofop-methyl as a sole source of carbon and energy.

Six nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from Manitoban soils after enrichment with diclofopmethyl. Microscopic examination and physiological and biochemical tests have identified the organisms as Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Chryseomonas luteola, Pseudomonas aureofaciens, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Growth curve studies showed that each of the isolates was able to grow in minimal medium with diclofop-methyl as the sole source of carbon and energy. Chemical analysis confirmed that all of the added diclofop-methyl (1.5 micrograms.mL-1) had been utilized after 31 h of incubation at 25 degrees C.