STUDIES ON SPORE GERMINATION II

Abstract

The rate of spore germination of Bacillus subtilis (PCI 219) can be easily determined by measur- ing the decrease of optical density of culture media in which spores germinate. By the method using the decrease of optical density of culture media as a criterion of the germination, the effects of various nitrogen sources on the germination have been studied. From the present work it is clear that some amino acids stimulate germina- tion in the presence of glucose and inorganic phosphate. There is no identity between the nitrogen requirements of the germination and those of the vegetative growth. Possible explana- tions of these phenomena are discussed.