FIG. 10.
Influence of growth rate on the length of Flectobacillus sp. strain MWH38, F. major, and C. acidovorans PX54 cells and filaments in flagellate-free chemostat cultures. C. acidovorans PX54 never formed chainlike filaments, and only a small percentage (1 to 3%) of F. major cells formed chainlike filaments consisting of two or three cells. High percentages of Flectobacillus sp. strain MWH38 cells formed chainlike filaments at high growth rates (Fig. 3 and 4), and the data for this species distinguish between the influence of growth rate on cell length (Lc) (○) and the influence of growth rate on the total length of bacteria (single cells and filaments (LT) (•). The curves are the result of a regression analysis (see text). In addition, the mean lengths of C. acidovorans PX54 cells observed in the exponential phase of batch cultures are shown. d, day.