Resumo. Pectin is found in large amounts as waste of industrialized fruit juices. These pectic substances are susceptible to hydrolysis by acid and enzymatic methods, and could be used as low-cost substrates on biological conversion processes for obtaining bioproducts, such as biopolymers. Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida are microorganisms known for their ability to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as carbon and energy sources in unfavorable conditions of growthand excess carbon source. In this work were investigated acid and enzymatic hydrolysis of commercial pectin aiming theuse pectic hydrolysates as substrates for cell growth of both microorganisms. Substrate obtained by acid hydrolysis, held inrotaevaporator system with reflux, allowed cell growth of C. necator with adaptive phase of 12 hours. Enzymatic hydrolysisassays using polygalacturonase, performed on esterified and non- esterified pectin, allowed obtaining a reducing groupsconcentration above 5 g/l after 24 h. Hydrolysate obtained allowed only the cell growth of C. necator after an adaptivephase of 8 hours, while P. putida cell growth was inhibited in all of hydrolysis conditions tested.