Growth and Sporulation of Smooth and Rough Variants of Bacillus Stearothermophilus in Pea Extract and on Pea Agar

摘要

SUMMARYThe influence of rough and smooth variants ofBacillus stearothermophiluson growth and sporulation of each was investigated. The smooth variant grew faster from spore inoculum than the rough variant and produced more acid than the rough when grown separately. However, when grown together, the growth was similar to the smooth; and acid production, as measured by pH, was also the same. When the inoculum was vegetative cells, the growth of rough and smooth were similar to the rough both in growth and pH. More spores were produced by the rough variant than by the smooth variant when grown separately on pea agar or in pea extract. When grown together on pea agar or in pea extract, the total number of spores was less than the rough variant but they were of the rough variant type.