Pseudomonas solanacearum utilized phenylalanine as sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Phenylalanine-grown cells rapidly oxidized phenylacetic acid and homogentisic acid. Gentisic and protocatechuic acids were also oxidized, after an initial lag. Phenylacetate-grown cells rapidly oxidized gentisic acid, slowly oxidized o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and catechol, and did not oxidize m-hydroxymandelic and m-hydroxyphenylacetic acids. Phenylalanine was degraded via phenylacetic acid-r-lactone and beta ketoadipate; Rothera’s test indicated ortho cleavage of the aromatic ring.