Abstract: The ability of A. woodii to synthesise catechol from guaiacol was studied in "Balch" medium containing guaiacol in the presence or absence of fructose. Results showed that A. woodii was able to grow in both media containing guaiacol with or without fructose to produce catechol. Cultures incubated with a mixture of guaiacol and fructose gave higher concentration of cells than cultures grown with guaiacol alone. The highest concentration of cells (0.75 g L-1 cells dry weight) was found in a culture containing 5 g L-1 fructose plus 0.6 g L-1 guaiacol. Although cells production was relatively low in cultures with guaiacol compared with cultures with guaiacol and fructose, catechol synthesis was higher in the former cultures.