Pseudomonas maltophilia N246 carrying on OCT plasmid grew on n-alkanes of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, but not on n-alkanes of more carbon atoms. P. maltophilia strains with and without OCT plasmid could utilize primary alcohols. aldehydes and fatty acids derived from n-alkane. The N246 strain could also utilize monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids, and terminal branched dimethyloctane. Unlike the genes of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase which were located on both the chromosome and the OCT plasmid, genes for the alkane hydroxylase components were located only on the OCT plasmid in P. maltophilia N246.