Moraxella sp. G21 cells marked with the green fluorescent protein (gfp) survived in κ-carrageenan beads and as free cells for a month after inoculation into autoclaved soil and non-sterile soil contaminated with p-nitrophenol (PNP). Similar [U-14C]PNP mineralization values were produced by encapsulated Moraxella sp. G21 cells and as free cells (53 and 60% mineralization). There was no significant difference between cell survival and [U-14C]PNP mineralization activity in soil by the rifampicin-resistant Moraxella sp. mental strain and Moraxella sp. G21. The ability of encapsulated Moraxella sp. G21 cells to survive, retain their green fluorescence and mineralize [U-14C]PNP suggests that the GFP-marked strain encapsulated in κ-carrageenan may be useful for bioremediation of toxic chemicals in soil.