Abstract
This investigation was part of a program to clarify the environmental regulation of fruiting-body formation in a fruiting myxobacterium. By use of a dispersed-growing strain of Myxococcus xanthus the nutritional requirements for vegetative growth have been defined. Exponential growth will take place on a medium containing 17 amino-acids and salts. The generation time is 8 to 10 hr. Various optima have been established. There are no requirements for exogenous vitamins; and, with the exception of glycogen, a variety of organic materials do not significantly stimulate growth.