OBSERVATIONS ON AMYLOLYTIC BACTERIA: I. A SURVEY OF NAMED MESOPHILIC SPECIES ON SOLUBLE STARCH
A survey was made of the ability of known, named, mesophilic strains of 40 bacterial species lo hydrolyze soluble starch in trypticase–yeast extract broth. The 40 species are either not described in Bergey's Manual as to their action on starch or they are listed as "not hvdrolyzing starch". Strains of 35 species hydrolyzed soluble starch, including seven spp. described as nonamyloytic. The latter were: Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus, M. citreus, M. luteus, Escherichia coli, Erneinia carotovora, E. atroscptica, and Flazobacterium rhenanus. Strains of lour species failed to hydrolyze starch in repeated at tempts: Micrococcus sphaeroides, Goffkya tetragene, Neisseria catarrhalis, Serratia, rubida, Rhizobium trifolii failed to grow. The disappearance of the substrate is a more permanent characteristic than either the accumulation of acids or of reducing sugars. Additional tests are required when the starch iodine color is still blue after two weeks of incubation. The initial pH seems to influence amylase formation. Pertinent literature is quoted supporting the findings.