Effect of the EPS on the high-salinity tolerance of strain SM20310 (A) and E. coli (B). (A1, B1) Incubation for 24 h; (A2, B2) incubation for 48 h; (A3, B3) incubation for 72 h. The values shown are means ± SDs from three experimental repeats. Black bars, absence of EPS; red bars, 0.5 mg ml−1 EPS; blue bars, 1.0 mg ml−1 EPS.