[Electron microscopic study of the cell arrangement in bacterial colonies]

The microstructure of colonies of Bacillus brevis var. G.--B R-, S-, P+-, P- -variants and Caryophanon latum and C. tenue growing on agar have been studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. These two days colonies B. brevis R-variant have rough surface. The structures of the colonies are characterized by packets of densely packed together cells. The colonies of S-variant are circular with smooth surface, the arrangement of the cells in colony is chaotic. In colonies of P+- and P- -variants the individual cells are located in parallel rows. The arrangement of the cells and the form of the colony are interconnected.