Continuous culture of Pseudomonas fluorescens with sodium maleate as a carbon source

Abstract

AbstractPseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC 11150) was grown in batch and continuous culture in minimal media with sodium maleate as growth‐limiting sole organic carbon source. Growth was followed by turbidity and dry weight measurements. Gross composition of washed cells (relative amounts of protein, lipid, RNA, and DNA) and the distribution of amino acids in protein hydrolyses of the cells were determined for cells grown in continuous culture at various dilution rates. Extracellular concentrations of the original carbon source and a number of metabolites were monitored by a total carbon analysis, ion exchange chromatography, and ultraviolet‐visible scans of cell‐free supernatants and chromatographic fractions, thereof.Substrate inhibition by maleate was a major factor in the growth kinetics of both batch and continuous cultures. Excessive maleate concentration caused instability in continuous cultures. By appropriate operation, much higher specific growth rates (0.305/hr) could ultimately be achieved in continuous culture compared to batch culture (0.174/hr). Adaptation was responsible for only part of the differences between batch and continuous cultures; the differing distribution of metabolites were also major factors.