Utilization of low concentrations of starch by a flavobacterium species isolated from tap water.
Experiments in well-cleaned glass flasks revealed that addition of starch in concentrations of 10 and 25 mug of substrate C per liter to the filtrate of slow sand filters stimulated the development of a yellow-pigmented bacterium which was identified as a Flavobacterium species. The isolate was able to multiply in tap water without substrates added, but addition of starch and glucose in amounts as low as 1 mug of substrate C per liter clearly enhanced growth. The substrate affinities of the Flavobacterium for these compounds were 3.9 mug of starch C and 3.3 mug of glucose C per liter. The results of this study indicate that microorganisms which rapidly utilize starch at a level of a few micrograms per liter commonly occur in water.
van der Kooij
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The Netherlands Waterworks' Testing and Research Institute, KIWA Ltd., 2280 AB Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
Hijnen
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WA