The Metabolism of Glucose by the Combined Use of Gluconobacter Suboxydans & Pseudomonas Fluorescens

Metabolism of glucose by G. suboxydans and P. fluorescens in pure and mixed culture was characterized in 10% glucose-yeast extract medium in presence of calcium carbonate. A pattern between viable cell counts and copper-reducing compounds was established. A decrease in viable cell counts of the two bacteria was observed after the maximum accumulation of 5- and 2- oxogluconate. P. fluorescens was found to have a faster growth and rate of production of 2-oxogluconate than the growth and production rate of 5-oxogluconate by G. suboxydans. It was found that P. fluorescens grew on nutrient agar at pH 7.5, but G. suboxydans did not grow, whereas, G. suboxydans grew on a carbohydrate-yeast extract medium at pH 4, and P. fluorescens did not grow tnus permitting differential cell counts. An alteration in predominance between the two bacterial species which paralleled accumulation of various copper-reducing compounds was observed. The growth of P. fluorescens on 10% glucose-yeast extract medium following the growth of G. suboxydans was studied. Growth of pseudomonads paralleled an increase in copper-reducing compounds. Accumulation of various reducing compounds after 120 hr corresponded to a decrease in cell counts of P. fluorescens