FIG. 5.

Phase-contrast microscopy of B. subtilis 168, cbQ, 168SB, and CJSB spores treated with l-alanine. Spores were germinated at 37°C for 6 h as described for Fig. 4, with the addition of germination buffer (10 mM l-alanine, 10 mM Tris-HCl [pH 8.4]), and then observed by phase-contrast microscopy. Bar, 5 μm.