Phenotypic and genotypic characterization indicated that a group of 29 clos
ely related phenanthrene-degrading bacteria from a coal gasification site i
n Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark, belonged to the genus Pseudomonas. Th
e strains were isolated at two sampling occasions 2 years apart. The isolat
es were phenotypically different from any known species of the genus Pseudo
monas and were therefore subject to further identification. Colonies were s
mooth and pale yellowish and did not produce pigments fluorescent in UV lig
ht when grown on King's B agar. Cells were rod-shaped, approximately 0.5-0.
8 x 1.5-3.0 mum, and grew at 4 and 30 degreesC, but not 37 degreesC. The ba
cteria were oxidase- and catalase-positive, accumulated poly-beta -hydroxyb
utyrate and denitrified, but did not utilize D-xylose. The mean G+C content
was 59.6 mol%. Phenotypic data and 16S rDNA sequence data information for
Pseudomonas amygdali and Pseudomonas corrugate, and 16S rDNA sequence data
for Pseudomonas chlororaphis and Pseudomonas syringae showed close relation
ships to these strains. However, DNA-DNA hybridization data showed that the
isolates belong to a new species, for which the name Pseudomonas frederiks
bergensis sp. nov, is proposed. The type strain is JAJ28(T) (DSM 13022(T)).