Characterization of a soil bacterial consortium capable of degrading diesel fuel

A bacterial consortium consisting of seven members was obtained by a soil enrichment procedure using diesel fuel as carbon source. Six of the seven isolates were identified based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Only three isolates were able to degrade the petroleum hydrocarbons tested. Two of these degraded preferentially light aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds. A third isolate utilized only the aliphatic compounds. The four other isolates were unable to degrade the hydrocarbons tested. The reconstituted consortium degraded 90% of diesel fuel after 50 days in liquid medium and was characterized by the succession of the different members. The presence of the four other members increased the rate of diesel fuel mineralization to carbon dioxide. In sterile soil, these four bacteria rapidly colonized the soil delaying the development of the third member, thus, resulting in a lower rate of diesel fuel degradation.