Rapid and automated enumeration of viable bacteria in compost using a micro-colony auto counting system.
The micro-colony method was used to enumerate viable bacteria in composts. Cells were vacuum-filtered onto polycarbonate filters and incubated for 18 h on LB medium at 37 degrees C. Bacteria on the filters were stained with SYBR Green II, and enumerated using a newly developed micro-colony auto counting system which can automatically count micro-colonies on half the area of the filter within 90 s. A large number of bacteria in samples retained physiological activity and formed micro-colonies within 18 h, whereas most could not form large colonies on conventional media within 1 week. The results showed that this convenient technique can enumerate viable bacteria in compost rapidly for its efficient quality control.
Environmental Science and Microbiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Osaka University, 1-6, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Xiaodan
X
Wang
Nobuyasu
N
Yamaguchi
Takashi
T
Someya
Masao
M
Nasu
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods*; D003470:Culture Media; D005374:Filtration; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D003470:Culture Media; D012987:Soil