FIG 6.

Growth rate of wild-type E. coli in low-iron medium is not affected by inoculum size. E. coli BW25113 was grown in low-iron medium starting at various densities as indicated (initial cell density). Cell numbers were determined by plate counting at the time of inoculation and at 18 h. In all cases, growth was in logarithmic phase at 18 h. The number of generations is the number of doublings in 18 h. Cultures were run in triplicate. One of the lowest-density starting cultures failed to grow, presumably because this culture did not receive any cells during inoculation; this culture was excluded from analysis.