[Possibility of using light of different wavelengths for growing Chromatium vinosum in heterotrophic conditions]

The photoautotrophic purple sulphur bacterium Chronatium vinosum was found to be capable of heterotrophic growth under anaerobic conditions at the expense of light energy. No growth was detected under anaerobic conditions in the absence of light. The energy of monochromatic red light (715, 726, 739, 776, 815 nm) and green light (534 and 535 nm), as well as of green luminescent light (a broad maximum at 500-560 nm, a peak at 520 nm) and white light, was used by the bacterium for the growth under anaerobic conditions in the presence of acetic acid as a sole source of carbon. The rate of biosynthesis of the cellular matter, proteins and pigments (bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoids) was different depending on the spectrum: light having wavelengths of 534, 535 and 715 nm was favourable, and infrared light having a wavelength of 815 nm was most effective. The heterotrophic growth of the bacterium depended also on the intensity of light, the optimum energy being 14-10(3)-20-10(3) erg/cm2/sec.