Elucidating the key member of a linuron-mineralizing bacterial community by PCR and reverse transcription-PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis 16S rRNA gene fingerprinting and cultivation

A bacterial community from Danish agricultural soil was enriched with linuron [N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N'-methoxy-N'-methylurea] as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The community mineralized [ring-U-14C]linuron completely to 14CO2 and 14C-biomass. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis and cultivation revealed that a Variovorax sp. was responsible for the mineralization activity.