Relation between the generation time and the lag time of bacterial growth kinetics

Abstract

In predictive microbiology, the relation between the lag time ( Lag) and the generation time ( T g) is commonly assumed to be proportional, as long as the pre-incubation environmental conditions remain constant. This relation was statistically examined in nine published datasets. For every dataset, it was roughly proportional. However, a more advanced study showed that the ratio Lag/ Tg was not totally independent of the environmental conditions. In particular, a significant negative effect of the pH on this ratio was observed in five of the nine datasets. For modeling the environmental dependence of microbial growth parameters, some authors independently deal with Lag and Tg. Other authors only model the environmental dependence of Tg, assuming Lag/ Tg to be constant. These two modeling methods were statistically compared for the nine datasets under study. Results differed from one dataset to another. For some, the model developed with a constant ratio Lag/ Tg sufficed to describe the data, whereas for the others, an independent modeling of Lag and Tg was more satisfactory.