Investigations on the Effects of Temperature on the Degradation of Cellulose by Bacteria from Aquatic Environments in Different Climatic Zones

Abstract

Two strains of cellulose-degrading bacteria isolated from aquatic environments in two different climatic zones were studied with regard to the effects of temperature on their growth rate and degradation of cellulose. It was found that the strain which had adapted to higher temperatures is able to achieve higher absolute cellulose degradation rates due to its higher temperature optimum (ca. 35 °C) and the correspondingly high growth and degradation rates at this temperature. On the other hand, the strain adapted to lower temperatures (temperature optimum around 25 °C) exhibits a higher growth rate and more intensive degradation capabilities at the low temperatures registered for these waters.