FERMENTATION OF GALACTURONIC ACID AND GLUCOSE BY A STRAIN OF ERWINIA CAROTOVORA

Abstract

Resting cell suspensions of a strain of E. carotovora, which had been isolated from Mexican bell pepper, cannot attack galacturonic acid unless the cells have been previously adapted by growth in this substrate. Glucose can be metabolized without prior adaptation. Both substances are fermented in a fashion typical of Aerobacter except for failure to produce H, owing presumably to a lack of formic hydro-genlyase. Products from glucose are CO2, lactic acid, succinic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, ethyl alcohol, and 2,3-butylene glycol. Ethyl alcohol was not produced in the fermentation of galacturonic acid, and the end products of fermentation of that substance are more highly oxidized than those from glucose.