Competitive Inhibition of Sulphate Reduction by Selenate

Butlin, Adams and Thomas¹ have described methods for the isolation and cultivation of pure strains of Desulphovibrio desulphuricans. In order to grow large numbers of cells for manometric work, it is preferable to use a richer medium than any of those described, and one based on peptone and glucose has been found capable of supporting massive growth of certain strains (up to about 0.8 mgm. dried cells/ml.) in about seventy-two hours, growth being visible in less than twenty hours. Its composition is: glucose 10.0 gm.; MgSO₄.7H₂O, 1.5 gm.; Na₂SO₄, 1.5 gm.; `Difco' peptone, 20 gm., or `Difco' peptone, 5 gm., and yeast extract, 4 gm.; tap water, 1,000 ml.; pH 6.3. No addition of iron is necessary, and no ferrous sulphide is precipitated during growth.