Isolation and characterization of 4-tert-butylphenol-utilizing Sphingobium fuliginis strains from Phragmites australis rhizosphere sediment.

We isolated three Sphingobium fuliginis strains from Phragmites australis rhizosphere sediment that were capable of utilizing 4-tert-butylphenol as a sole carbon and energy source. These strains are the first 4-tert-butylphenol-utilizing bacteria. The strain designated TIK-1 completely degraded 1.