The Utilization of Phenolic Compounds as Sources of Energy by the Azotobacter of the Soil

G. GUITTONNEAU AND R. CHEVALIER O researche s have shown that Azotobacter is able to attack phenoli c compounds and that the carbon of the benzene nucleus supplies energy for nitrogen fixation. They sugges t a new idea: the attack on the monobenzoi c acids is first of all conditioned by the molecular structure of the acids. The preference of Azotobacter for this or that food substanc e manifest s itself even in the internal structure of the molecule. We have at last classed the Azotobacter of the soils examined into a certai n number of physiologi c types that are distinguished by their respective behavior toward five selective media, namely: silica gel with mannitol, with benzoate , with phenol , with para and with ortho-monoxybenzoate . — Author's summary translated by Alvin W. Hofer.