Storage of a mixed microbial consortium capable of growth on biphenyl

A mixed microbial consortium, BSEN-2, was isolated from a polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil using biphenyl as the sole source of carbon and energy. The community was found to contain nine members based on colony morphology on plate count agar with biphenyl. BSEN-2 was stored on glycerol (15% v/v) at - 80°C and was regenerated 3, 30, 100 and 250 d after freezing. No loss of community members or significant change in growth kinetics were observed. This method provides a simple, convenient and reliable method of producing mixed microbial inocula.