Bacteriology and nutrition of environmental strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae involved in wood and bark decay.

Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from screening procedures for wood- and bark-decaying bacteria. Their bacteriological and biochemical properties, their sensitivity to antibiotics and assimilation of wood components were analysed. Most were pectinolytic, degraded xylan and different phenolic compounds. Unusual associations of capsular polysaccharides and biotypes were observed. The nitrogen fixation ability of these strains was also tested.