A genetically engineered Escherichia coli strain overexpressing the nitroreductase NfsB is capable of producing the herbicide D-DIBOA with 100% molar yield.

The high yields and concentrations of D-DIBOA reached by the microbial-cell-factory approach developed in this work will facilitate its application to industrial scale. Also, the use of an optimized defined medium with only an organic molecule (glucose as carbon and energy source) in its composition will also facilitate the downstream processes.