Date of Award:
5-1-1973
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Biology
Department name when degree awarded
Bacteriology and Public Health
Committee Chair(s)
F. J. Post
Committee
F. J. Post
Committee
P. B. Carter
Committee
D. K. Salunkhe
Abstract
The requirement of bacteria for water increases when temperature of growth deviates from the organism's optimum growth temperature. A psychrophilic organism was isolated from a meat sample stored at refrigerator temperature and shown to have an optimum temperature 17 C. Partial identification of the unknown meat isolate was also carried out using morphological and biochemical characteristics. A comparative study was carried out using a mesophile Staphylococcus aureus and a thermophile Bacillus stearothermophillus for requirements of free water at different temperature ranges. The organisms were grown in media of varying salt concentration at a wide range of growth temperatures (the meat isolate at 5 C to 25 C; S. aureus at 26. 5 C to 42. 5 C; and B. stearothermophilus at 47. 5 C to 63. 5 C). It was observed that all the organisms tested tolerated the highest salt concentration (lowest water activity) at their optimum growth temperature, and as the temperature deviated tolerance decreased.
Recommended Citation
Chokshi, Girish C., "The Effect of Salt Concentration, Aqueous Activity and Temperature on the Growth of Three Bacteria" (1973). Biology. 391.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd_biology/391
Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .