GROWTH AND ACTIVITY OF SOIL MICROORGANISMS IN GLASS MICRO-BEADS

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Abstract
Further results are reported concerning the growth and activity of soil microorganisms in 2 sizes of glass micro-beads. The number of cells of Bacillus subtilis that developed in small (37 [mu] mean diameter) and large (149 [mu] mean diameter) micro-beads correlated well with the rate of CO2 evolved from glucose. Bacterial numbers and CO2 evolution rates were markedly higher in the small micro-beads. Oxygen uptake also correlated well with cell numbers for both micro-bead sizes, although the average activity per unit mass was highest in the small micro-beads. Population density, based on numbers of cells of Bacillus subtilis per square centimeter of micro-bead surface, was considerably higher in the large micro-beads. These data suggest a more critical competition for available surface in the large micro-beads, which soon resulted in limitation of growth and activity of this organism. On the other hand, growth and activity of Trichoderma viride were greatest in the large micro-beads. Apparently, fungi, due to their growth characteristics, have a more critical requirement for inter-bead space than for linear surface, while for many bacteria the opposite is true.

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