Relationships between initial nutrient concentration and total growth

Abstract

Ecker, R. E. (Iowa State University, Ames), and W. R. Lockhart. Relationships between initial nutrient concentration and total growth. J. Bacteriol. 82:80-84. 1961.-The relationship observed between maximal attainable growth in a microbial population and initial concentration of limiting nutrient depends upon the parameter selected for measurement of growth. A linear relationship is found only when cell mass is the parameter. When population is used as the measure of growth, the relationship is: N(max) = K'C(0) (s), where N(max) is the maximal attainable population, C(0) is the initial concentration of limiting nutrient and K' and s are constants. The use of this expression in demonstrating subtle differences between strains is shown.