Abstract: Growth of bacteria belonging to new species of genera Pseudomonas, Microcyclus and Hyphomicrobium upon culture media comprising sources of assimilable carbon, for example oxygenated hydrocarbons, and inorganic nutrients to produce protein compositions and/or other fermentation products, for example amino acids. The protein compositions produced are suitable for use as protein supplements in human and animal foods.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of enhancing, or preventing the decline in, the digestibility of a crop, in particular of a fodder crop, by applying to the crop, to seed of the crop, or to the locus of the crop or seed, a compound or a mixture of at least two compounds of general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or --COR.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy or aralkyloxy, X is --O--, --NE-- or --CH.sub.2 --, Y is carboxy or an alkali metal, ammonium or mono- or di-alkyl- or cycloalkylamine salt thereof, or Y is alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, aralkyloxy- carbonyl, amino or mono- or di-alkyl- or aryl- amino, Z is hydrogen, halogen, nitro, alkyl, trihalomethyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, cyano or alkylenedioxy, and x is an integer of 1 to 3. The invention also provides novel compounds, namely L-.alpha.-aminooxy-.beta.-(parahydroxy phenyl) propionic acid, and acid addition salts thereof.