Environmental factors affecting growth

Effect of Temperature on Growth

For every microorganism there is a
minimum temperature below which
growth is not possible, an optimum
temperature at which growth is most
rapid, and a maximum temperature
above which growth is not possible.
These three temperatures, called the
cardinal temperatures, are
characteristic for any given
microorganism.

 Acidity and Alkalinity:

Every microorganism has a
pH range within which growth
is possible and typically
shows a well-defined growth
pH optimum.
Most natural environments
have a pH between 4 and 9,
and organisms with optima in
this range are most
commonly encountered.

 Osmotic Effects:
Water Activity: Water activity,
abbreviated a , is defined as the ratio
of the vapor pressure of the air in
equilibrium with a substance or
solution to the vapor pressure of
pure water.
The cytoplasm of a cell typically has
a higher solute concentration than
the environment, so water tends to
diffuse into the cell. Under such
conditions, the cell is said to be in
positive water balance.
w

 Salinity :

 When an organism grows in a medium with a low water activity,

it can obtain water from its environment only by increasing its
internal solute concentration and driving water in by osmosis.
The internal solute concentration can be raised by either
pumping solutes into the cell from the environment or by
synthesizing a solute.
The solute used inside the cell for adjustment of cytoplasmic
water activity must be noninhibitory to macromolecules within
the cell.
Such compounds are called compatible solutes,

Oxygen classes of Microorganisms

Aerobes

Anaerobes

Obligate

Require O2

Micrococcus
luteus

Aero tolerant

Facultative

Not required,
but grow better
with O2

E. Coli

Obligate

Microaerophilic

Required, but at
low level

Spirillum
volutans

Obligate aerobes
Facultative aerobe
Microaerophilic

:
Aerobic respiration
:
Aerobic respiration, Fermentation and
Aerobic respiration

Obligate anaerobes :
Fermentation
Aerotolerant
:
Fermentation and

Anaerobic respiration

Not required, but

can tolerate O2

Streptococcus

O2 is harmful

Methanobacterium

Anaerobic respiration

 Cultivation of aerobes and

anaerobes
Aerobes : agitation or bubbling to
provide O2
Anaerobes: various method to
stop O2
Filling the bottles completely and
close with tight cap
Addition of reducing agents to
convert O2 to H2O
Thioglycolate

Bubbling the medium with N2 or H2S

Culturing in anoxic jar or glove box