Starvation-survival of a p-nitrophenol-degrading bacterium

Abstract

An environmental actinomycetes, capable of utilizing p-nitrophenol as its sole carbon and nitrogen source, was starved for an 8-week period and showed no reduction in its ability to biodegrade p-nitrophenol. Microscopic examination revealed that starvation of the bacterium resulted in the fragmentation of filaments into individual cells.