THE MINERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FLUORESCIN PRODUCTION

Abstract

An investigation of the salt requirements for fluorescin production has been carried out, and the mineral balance for maximum fluorescin production determined. Employing ammonium succinate as a source of nitrogen, the ions PO 4 , Mg, SO 4 , and Fe have been found essential to the formation of the pigment. Optimum production of fluorescin resulted when 0.01% magnesium chloride, 0.06% dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, 0.005%, potassium sulphate, and 0.000005% (0.05 p.p.m.) ferric chloride were used.The influence of high concentrations of Mg and SO 4 ions in the presence of varying concentrations of iron with ammonium succinate as the source of nitrogen on the formation of both fluorescin and pyocyanin has been determined.Fluorescin production has been demonstrated to depend primarily upon the concentration of sulphate, iron, and magnesium in the medium. The concentration of iron required has been shown to be of paramount importance. Increasing the amounts of either SO 4 or Mg did not bring about the pronounced stimulation of fluorescin production as was evidenced in the case of pyocyanin.