FORMULATION OF CULTURE-MEDIUM FOR GROWTH OF MICROBES FROM THE SUGAR-CANE INDUSTRY AND USE OF CETYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE AS ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT

A culture medium appropriate for the cultivation of microorganisms relevant to the sugar cane industry was formulated. Medium efficiency was determined according to growth parameter measurements taken for the major cane juice biocontaminants cultured, known to be selective in their growth factor requirements. Medium formulation was based on the composition of sugar cane juice, since it was intended for in vitro evaluation of the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents commonly used against troublesome microbial contaminants from the sugar cane industry. To test the usefulness of the medium, the activity of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on some selected microorganisms was investigated. Acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria were the most sensitive to CTAB, followed by yeast, Pseudomonas acidovorans and enterobacteriaceae. Some Pseudomonas species (Ps. aeruginosa, Ps. cepacia and Ps. mendocina) were extremely resistant to CTAB, probably due to their cell envelope impermeability. Using the presently described technique, it was possible to measure the effectiveness of CTAB at very low concentrations on microorganisms important for the sugar cane industry.25426126