The Survival of Red Halophiles in Water and in Brines

Abstract

The survival time of red halophiles in solutions of sodium chloride is greatest in saturated solutions and decreases with reductions in the concentration of salt. At 25 °C. heavy inoculations may survive for months in saturated brines, rarely over 24 hours in 10 per cent solutions, and for 2 to 6 hours in tap water free from salt. Increased temperature and decreased pH reduced the survival time in all of the salt concentrations tested. Various protein materials, but not sugar, had a protective action against the destructive action of decreased salt concentrations.