Growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens with sodium maleate as a carbon source

The growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC 11150) on sodium maleate was observed, and the composition of the media was monitored in batch culture. Utilization of the maleate as the sole organic carbon source proceeded by stepwise conversion to fumarate and then to malate. Respiration rates of P. fluorescens on maleate, mixtures of maleate and fumarate salts, and mixtures of maleate and malate salts were measured. Complex effects, possibly due to a change in metabolic mechanism, were observed.