Analysis of stable 1,2-dichlorobenzene-degrading enrichments and two newly isolated degrading strains, Acidovorax sp. sk40 and Ralstonia sp. sk41

Stable degrading 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) enrichments were generated from original contaminated soil and groundwater via enrichment procedures using a mineral salt medium containing 1,2-DCB as the sole carbon and energy source. Four transferred enrichments showed stable 1,2-DCB-degrading ability and completely degraded 1,2-DCB within 32 h. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA gene clone library analyses indicated that two bacterial strains, belonging to Acidovorax spp. and Ralstonia spp., respectively, were the predominant organisms in each enrichment. Moreover, these strains maintained a stable coexistence in the four transferred enrichments. These two bacteria were subsequently identified as Acidovorax sp. strain sk40 and Ralstonia sp. strain sk41. Strain sk40 was more tolerant to higher concentrations of 1,2-DCB than strain sk41, while strain sk41 maintained a shorter degradation time under lower concentrations of 1,2-DCB. Notably, however, both strains exhibited similar growth rates and degradation rates in media containing 40 mg/l 1,2-DCB, as well as complete degradation of the 1,2-DCB (40 mg/l) within 32 h. It is expected that these two strains will be used in future applications of bioremediation of 1,2-DCB contamination.