This study ventures into the exploration of potential poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) degradation in alpine environments. PHB-degrading bacteria were identified in both campus soil, representing a residential area, and Mt. Kurodake soil, an alpine region in Hokkaido, Japan. Next-generation sequencing analysis indicated that the campus soil exhibited higher microbial diversity, while Ralstonia insidiosa C1, isolated from Mt. Kurodake soil, displayed the highest proficiency in PHB degradation. R. insidiosa C1 efficiently degraded up to 3% (w/v) of PHB and various films composed of other biopolymers at 14 °C. This bacterium synthesized homopolymers using substrates such as 3-hydroxybutyric acid, sugars, and acetic acid, while also produced copolymers using a mixture of fatty acids. The analysis results confirmed that the biopolymer synthesized by strain C1 using glucose was PHB, with physical properties comparable to commercial products. The unique capabilities of R. insidiosa C1, encompassing both the production and degradation of bioplastics, highlight its potential to establish a novel material circulation model.
Keywords: Mulch films; Next-generation sequencing; Nuclear magnetic resonance; P(3HB-co-3HV); PHB film; PHBH.
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