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Sporulation and regeneration efficiency of phosphobacteria (Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum)

M Gomathy1, M Thangaraju, S Gunasekaran

  • 1Department of Agricultural Microbiology, TNAU, Coimbatore, 641 003 India.

Indian Journal of Microbiology
|October 27, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum spores remained viable for five months at both refrigerated and room temperatures. Nutrient broth with 5% inoculum maximized bacterial regeneration and multiplication.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Physiology

Background:

  • Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum is a bacterium known for its ability to form spores.
  • Spore viability and regeneration are critical for the practical application of bacterial cultures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the sporulation efficiency of Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum (PB-1) using a modified nutrient medium.
  • To assess the long-term viability of Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum spores under different storage conditions.
  • To determine optimal conditions for the regeneration and multiplication of Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum spores.

Main Methods:

  • Sporulation was induced using a modified nutrient medium, achieving induction within 36 hours.
  • Spore viability was monitored for five months at 5°C and 32°C via plating on nutrient agar at 15-day intervals.
  • Regeneration and multiplication were studied in various media (tap water, rice gruel, nutrient broth, sterile lignite, sterile water) with different spore inoculum concentrations.

Main Results:

  • No significant variation in spore viability was observed between refrigerated (5°C) and room temperature (32°C) storage over five months.
  • Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum spores demonstrated survival for the entire five-month storage period under both tested temperatures.
  • Maximum bacterial multiplication was achieved in nutrient broth with a 5% inoculum level, reaching 29.5 × 10^8 CFU/ml.

Conclusions:

  • Modified nutrient media effectively induce sporulation in Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum within 36 hours.
  • Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum spores exhibit remarkable stability and viability for at least five months under both refrigerated and room temperature storage.
  • Nutrient broth at a 5% inoculum concentration provides optimal conditions for the rapid regeneration and multiplication of Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum spores.
Keywords:
Bacillus megateriumRegeneration efficiencySpores

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