RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INITIAL NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION AND TOTAL GROWTH

Abstract

Ecker , R. E. (Iowa State University, Ames), and W. R. Lockhart . Relationships between initial nutrient concentration and total growth. J. Bacteriol. 82: 80–84. 1961.—The relationship observed between maximal attainable growth in a microbial population and initial concentration of limiting nutrient depends upon the parameter selected for measurement of growth. A linear relationship is found only when cell mass is the parameter. When population is used as the measure of growth, the relationship is: N max = K′C 0 s , where N max is the maximal attainable population, C 0 is the initial concentration of limiting nutrient and K′ and s are constants. The use of this expression in demonstrating subtle differences between strains is shown.