The effect of the accessory substances of plant tissue upon growth of bacteria

Abstract

The study of the properties of blood upon which depends the ability of the so-called hemoglobinophilic bacilli to grow in this medium, has shown that these properties are related to at least two factors which can be separately studied. Further studies have shown that both of these factors are present in plant tissue, (potato and banana), and that sterile unheated vegetable tissue can replace blood in the cultivation of B. influenzce. These observations have now been extended; yellow and white turnip, carrot, beet, parsnip, and sweet potato, when added to fluid media have been found to possess the same growth stimulating action as white potato.It has been found that these vegetable tissues not only permit the cultivation of the so-called hemoglobinophilic organisms, but that they also greatly favor the growth of other entirely unrelated organisms. For instance, in the case of pneumococcus, not only is there a marked acceleration of growth, but a seeding too minute to initiate growth in plain broth alone, w...