ISSN : 0975-5276
EISSN : 0975-9174
V. MAGESHWARAN1*, F.III. INMANN2, L.D. HOLMES3
1Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Matunga, Mumbai- 400 019, MS, India.
2University of North Carolina, Pembroke, North Carolina- 28372, USA.
3University of North Carolina, Pembroke, North Carolina- 28372, USA.
* Corresponding Author : mageshbioiari@gmail.com
Received : 18-09-2014 Accepted : 30-10-2014 Published : 11-12-2014
Volume : 6 Issue : 2 Pages : 570 - 574
Int J Microbiol Res 6.2 (2014):570-574
Keywords : Bacillus subtilis, Growth, Lignocellulose, Minimal medium
Academic Editor : Z. Petek Cakar
Conflict of Interest : The authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interests or personal financial interests associated with the outcome of this work.
Acknowledgements/Funding : The first author thanks to Component – I of National Agricultural Innovation Project, Indian Council of Agricultural Research for funding training program to carry out this research work.
In this study, the growth kinetics of Bacillus subtilis in M9 minimal medium containing lignocellulosic components such as cellulose, lignin and D-xylose as a sole carbon source were determined. Cell growth in glucose, sucrose and starch were also studied. Studies were conducted in a 2.0 liter fermenter. The specific growth rates and maximum specific growth rates of B. subtilis in 0.1 % of the carbon sources mentioned were determined. The substrate utilization constant of B. subtilis was determined using a wide range of concentrations. The change in pO2, acid and alkali additions during the growth in the fermenter was recorded. The study revealed that B. subtilis was grown in all of the carbon sources tested. The specific growth rate (h-1), maximum specific growth rate (h-1) and substrate utilization constant (mg/L) of B. subtilis in minimal medium containing glucose, sucrose, starch, cellulose, xylose and lignin were (0.481, 0.2, 1.3), (0.334, 0.1, 39.58), (0.074, 0.094, 67.32), (0.046, 0.049, 500), (0.077, 0.136, 132.2) and (0.034, 0.07,660) respectively. In all the carbon sources except cellulose, a decrease in pH was observed. The study concludes that B. subtilis can be efficiently grown using minimal medium containing lignocellulosic substrates as a sole carbon source.