Influence of osmolarity on phase shift in Photorhabdus luminescens

Abstract

The influence of osmolarity and other environmental factors like low oxygen levels, light, extreme pH values, and temperatures on phase variation of Photorhabdus luminescens, the symbiotic bacterium of entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis, was investigated. Only subculturing in low-osmolarity medium triggered a phase shift to secondary phase reliably.