FIG. 3.

Growth of P. fluorescens Pf0-1 strains bearing null mutations in iiv genes compared to Pf0-2x. Data presented are the means of results from three or four independent replicates. Initial CFU/g titers were not significantly different. Each iiv mutant had a significantly lower titer than Pf0-2x after 1 day in soil (P < 0.05). No significant differences were seen among strains after 3 days of soil growth. iiv mutations had no effect on growth rate in culture (doubling times in PMM culture: Pf0-1, 71 min; iiv2Sm, 69 min; iiv3Sm, 73 min; and iiv7Sm, 71.5 min). Error bars indicate standard deviations.