Unique metabolic traits of <i>Pseudomonas bharatica</i> CSV86 ^T : a promising candidate for biodegradation and up-cycling of aromatics

<i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. are ubiquitous, metabolically versatile bacteria that exhibit remarkable adaptability to thrive in diverse ecological niches contaminated with aromatics, such as pesticide-polluted agricultural soils, industrial wastewater, and lignin-based waste. This review highlights the unique genetic and metabolic traits of <i>Pseudomonas bharatica</i> CSV86^T, a novel soil bacterium capable of degrading a wide range of aromatics, including lignin-derived phenylpropanoid compounds. Unlike other pseudomonads, aromatic metabolism in strain CSV86^T is not subjected to carbon catabolite repression by simple carbon sources. Instead, it preferentially utilizes aromatics over glucose/glycerol and co-metabolizes them with organic acids, circumventing a major bottleneck in biodegradation. The strain is plasmid-free and naphthalene metabolism pathway genes are present on conjugatively transferable integrative conjugative element, ICE<i>nah</i>CSV86, offering potential for genetic bio-augmentation. Notably, the strain grows slowly on glucose and metabolizes it exclusively <i>via</i> phosphorylative pathway, as oxidative routes are absent. Beyond aromatic metabolism, it displays multifarious plant growth-promoting and beneficial eco-physiological traits for niche colonization and adaptation, crucial for restoration of contaminated sites. Collectively, these unique traits position strain CSV86^T as a niche-adapted alternative to model biodegradation strains, such as <i>P. putida</i> KT2440. Its potential can be further leveraged through metabolic engineering for detection, degradation, and up-cycling of aromatic pollutants.