Microbial Conversion of (+)-Limonene by an Enterobacter agglomerans Isolate

Entercbacter agglomerans 6L was isolated from citron (Citrus junos) peel by using an enrichment culture containing (+)-limonene. It was able to metabolize limonene and grew well ($A_{600}$:4.5) on limonene as a sole carbon source. E. agglomernas 6L was highly resistant to limonene toxicity, and grew to 1.0 optical density ($A_{600}$) even at 5% (v/v) of limonene in Luria-Bertani media. ${\gamma}-Valerolactone$ and cryptone were detected as the major metabolic products of limonene by E. agglomerans 6L.