Isolation and identification of a pyrogallol producing bacterium from soil.

A bacterial strain, which was isolated from soil, and identified as Citrobacter sp., showed an inducible gallic acid decarboxylase activity producing pyrogallol from gallic acid. The strain also decarboxylated protocatechuic acid, pyrocatechuic acid, 3, 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and m-hydroxybenzoic acid as well. The pyrogallol and pyrocatechol produced were isolated from the cultured broths to which gallic acid and protocatechuic acid were added, respectively.