On the theory of control of microbial growth kinetics by limiting nutrient concentrations

Abstract

Some formulations relating nutrient concentration to nutrient transport and to nutrient-limited growth rate are derived. Experimental examples are given in which transport restricts maximal growth rate in some cases and does not affect it in others. It is demonstrated that normal variations in cell yield from substrate consumed at various growth rates can generate curvature in growth kinetic curves unrelated to saturation phenomena. Nutrient uptake and growth rate versus concentration curves are diagrammed for a range of situations, and the kinetic constants for these curves are discussed. The definition of a previously introduced term, the affinity, is sharpened and literature values compiled. It is suggested that this is one of the more useful kinetic constants for describing the kinetics of aquatic microbial processes.