Genetic and phenotypic diversity of (R/S)-mecoprop [2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)propionic acid]-degrading bacteria isolated from soils.

Twelve mecoprop-degrading bacteria were isolated from soil samples, and their genetic and phenotypic characteristics were investigated. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the isolates were related to members of the genus Sphingomonas. Ten different chromosomal DNA patterns were obtained by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) amplification of repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences from the 12 isolates.