Lab 4 – The Effect of Temperature on Growth

Ninoska Garcia-Ortiz 063 053 2

Lab date: Tues, Sept 11, 2007
Due date: Tues, Sept 25, 2007

Objective:

To observe the effect of temperature on the rate of growth of bacteria.

- Psychrophiles grow best at temperatures between 0˚C and 20˚C.

o Show significant growth within 2 weeks at 0˚C
- Mesophiles grow most rapidly at temperatures between 20˚C and 50˚C.
o Many grow slowly at temps as low as 5˚C, a few grow slowly at temps as high as
55˚C
- Thermophiles grow best between 50˚C - 100˚C.
o Grow poorly or not at all at temps below 45˚C

Material:

- 16 test tubes of nutrient broth

- Nutrient broth cultures of:
o Staphylococus epidermis
o Mycobacterium luteum
o Pseudomonas fluorescens
o Bacillus stearothermophilus

Results:

24 Hour Incubation

Culture 5˚C 25˚C 35˚C 53˚C

S. epidermis 0 0 ++ ++
M. luteum 0 0 ++ +
P. fluorescens 0 0 0 0
B. stearothermophilus 0 0 0 0
1 Week Incubation

Culture 5˚C 25˚C 35˚C 53˚C

S. epidermis 0 ++ +++ 0
M. luteum 0 +++ +++ 0
P. fluorescens 0 0 0 0
B. stearothermophilus 0 0 0 0

Discussion Questions:

2..
a. Staphylococus epidermis - mesophile
b. Mycobacterium luteum - mesophile
c. Pseudomonas fluorescens - not able to analyze
d. Bacillus stearothermophilus – not able to analyze

3. The organisms sensitivity is due to the cell wall structure.

4. Psychrophiles can grow at 0˚C and has optimum growth temperature of 15˚C. They are
so sensitive that they will not grow at room temperature 25˚C. They are found at the
bottom of the ocean and Polar Regions. They seldom cause problems in food
preservation. Psychrotrophs can grow at 0˚C but have higher optimum growth
temperature of 20-30˚C but cannot grow above 40˚C. More common than psychrophi les
they are more likely to encounter in low-temperature food spoilage because they grow
fairly well at refrigerator temperature.

Conclussion

In conclusion, the objectives of this experiment were met. Through careful manipulation two
aseptic plates were successfully poured. This was proven by the absence of growth on these
plates. Aseptic technique was also used during the transferring of E.coli bacteria. There was
absence of growth in this third plate as well, which was expected, as the E.coli bacteria in the
broth was dead. The results for the fourth Petri dish occurred as expected. My fingers were dirty,
not aseptic, and the micro-organisms colonized on the plate proved what I expected