A Study of Violet-pigmented Micrococci. Yellow-pigmented Mutants of Staphylococcus flavocyaneus

Abstract

SUMMARY: Staphylococcus flavocyaneus produces at least two pigments on glucose yeast-extract agar; a violet diffusible pigment and a yellow non-diffusing pigment. On some media the production of violet diffusible pigment is inhibited. In broth cultures of this organism a mutation takes place giving rise to yellow-pigmented mutants which have lost the ability of producing the violet pigment. A considerable accumulation of these mutants occurs in cultures on both solid and liquid media. No reversion to the violet-pigmented state or other change in pigmentation in the mutants has been observed.