Toxic and Antagonistic Effects of Salts as Related to Ammonification by Bacillus subtilis

Abstract

1. Each of the four chlorids (CaCl2, MgCl2, KCl, NaCl) is toxic for B. subtilis, in the order given, the first being the most toxic and the fourth the least. This is quite different from the results with higher plants, where magnesium is the most toxic and calcium the least. 2. A marked antagonism exists between Ca and K, Mg and Na, K and Na. 3. No antagonism exists between Mg and Ca, but the toxic effect of each is increased by addition of the other to it. This is just the opposite of what has hitherto been found for plants.