Growth kinetic studies of nitrifying bacteria by the immunofluorescent counting method.

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Abstract
The growth kinetics of NH4+-oxidizing bacteria and NO2--oxidizing bacteria were studied using the indirect immunofluorescent counting method. In the case of NH4+-oxidizing bacteria, the maximum specific growth rate (.mu.max) was 0.58 day-1 and the half saturation constant (Kg) was 200 .mu.M NH4+. Maximum specific activity (Amax) during the exponential growth phase was 6.6 .times. 10-5 nmol/cell per day. From the relationship between the specific growth rate and the specific activity, the maximum growth yield (Ymax) and maintenance coefficient (m) were calculated. Ymax was 1.0 .times. 104 cells/nmol NH4+ and m was 1.1 .times. 10-5 nmol/cell per day. The maintenance coefficient was about 17% of Amax. In the case of NH4+-oxidizing bacteria, .mu.max, Kg and Amax were 0.81 day-1, 15 .mu.M and 2.8 .times. 10-4 nmol/cell per day, respectively. Ymax and m could not be calculated, since the maintenance coefficient became negative. From these results, the growth kinetics of nitrifying bacteria were discussed.