Microbiology Procedure
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Index >> Growth of Microorganism >>Environmental Factors Afftecting Microbial Growth

Environmental Factors Afftecting Microbial Growth

Environmental Factors Afftecting Microbial Growth. It can be seen that this growth is very rapid and the high growth rates require suitable control of nutrients and physical and chemical conditions of the environ ment.
The physico chemical factors of natural environment determine the rates of microbial growth and the nature and size of the indigenous population.

1. Temperature. Environmental temperature is one of the most important factors affecting the growth rate of microbes. There is a minimum temperature, below which growth does not occur.

As we rise above the minimum, rate of growth increases in accordance with the laws governing the effect of temperature on the chemical reactions that make up growth.

These reactions are mostly enzyme catalysed. However, a point is reached the optimum temperature when there is also a very rapid increase the rate of inactivation of heat sensitive cell components, like enzymes, ribosomes, DNA, membranes etc.

Above an optimum temperature, this heat denaturation will occur so rapidly that there is a corresponding rapid drop in the rate of growth to give a maximum temperature for growth for that particular microorganism. Most microbes are capable of growth in a temperature range of 20- 3O"C. Most microorganisms have a growth optimum between 20 and 40°C and are called mesophilic. Those inhabiting cold environments such as polar areas can prow at much lower temperatures.

 

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