Abstract
Cells of Bacillus megaterium growing in the presence of glass microbeads with average diameters of 29 and 53 μm were frequently filamentous and sometimes reached lengths of 600 μm. Some of the filaments were nonseptate. The formation of filaments was prevented by magnesium but not by several other cations. In media with supplemental magnesium, the time required before active proliferation commenced was inversely related to the diameter of the particles. B. megaterium growing in media with the smaller size beads consumed oxygen and utilized glucose at greater rates than bacteria in media with the larger spheres or in bead-free solutions, and the uptake of oxygen was maintained for a longer period.
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Ou, LT., Alexander, M. Influence of glass microbeads on growth, activity and morphological changes of Bacillus megaterium . Arch. Microbiol. 101, 35–44 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455923
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00455923