ANALYSIS OF RESPIRATION DURING GERMINATION AND ENLARGEMENT OF SPORES OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM AND OF THE FUNGUS MYROTHECIUM VERRUCARIA

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Abstract
1. There are certainly two, and probably three, stages in the development of B. megaterium from the spore to inception of cell division. The rapid increase in rate of respiration during the initial 10 minutes on glucose-peptone-yeast extract medium coincides with decrease in optical density and with increase in stainability. From about 10 to 100 minutes, the rate increases linearly, coinciding with swelling of the spores and ending at approximately the time of rupture of the spore case. From about 100 to 180 minutes, there is a second and steeper linear increase in respiration rate coinciding with cell elongation. These physiological and morphological phenomena are discussed as criteria for germination.