[Isolation, morphological and biochemical characteristics of gram-positive bacteria metabolizing beta-caryophyllene].

Eleven strains of coryneform bacteria were isolated from soil samples by enrichment culture in a mineral medium containing beta-caryophyllene as the sole energy and carbon source. Ten of them could also metabolize longifolene. Numerical taxonomy, based on the use of 147 characteristics, revealed a large diversity. The DNA G + C content was found to be in the range of 62.5-68.3 mol%. Three strains were placed in "The National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria".