Physiology of Microorganisms

(BIO0336)

Chapter _3

Department of Biology
Semester _3
1444 H
 Chapter (3)

Factors affecting growth

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 outline

• Introduction

• Factors affecting growth

• Internal factors

• physical and chemical factors affecting microbial growth

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Introduction

• Microorganisms, like other living organisms, are dependent

on their environment to provide for their basic needs. Adverse
conditions can alter their growth rate or kill them. Growth of
microorganisms can be controlled by:
• Internal factors
• External factors
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Factors affecting growth

• Internal factors

1- Genetic constitution
E
2- Inoculum

3- Metabolites

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Internal factors_ 1- Genetic
c
constitution

of
EX: The genetic nature as of the fungus differ from genus to another in
the same species. The mutation of fungi can produced by exposed the
fungal spores to the x-rays and uv-rays or by some chemical
substances.

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Internal factors_ 2- Inoculum

• The age of inoculum source culture and its amount with the genetic history
are affected on the rate of growth

• The growth of young inoculum stronger than the growth of inoculum which
taken from old culture

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Internal factors_ 3- Metabolites

• The
we age of inoculum source culture and its amount with the genetic history
are affected on the rate of growth

• The growth of young inoculum stronger than the growth of inoculum which
taken from old culture

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 so

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A- Chemical Requirements for Growth

1-WeNutritional requirements
• Water

• Carbon source (C)

• Nitrogen source (N)

• Sulfur (S)

• Phosphorus (P)

• Trace elements

• Growth factors ( vitamins and amino acids)

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A- Chemical Requirements for Growth

2- Nutritional concentration
--
WeIf culture media is rich in growth promoting substance, growth of microbe
occurs faster. Decrease in nutrient concentration decreases the growth rate.
-- Different bacteria have
00 different nutritional requirement.
EX: With increase in concentration nutrition, growth rate of bacteria increases up
to certain level and then growth rate remains constant irrespective of nutrition
addition.
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 E

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as
B- Physical (environmental )
factors affecting microbial
growth

Microbes need all of these factors to survive, just like animals

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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
1- Available water

• Water is the most essential factor for microbial growth.

• Available water in the culture media determines the rate of metabolic and
physiological activities of bacteria.
• Sugar, salts and other substances are dissolved in water and are made
available for bacteria.

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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
2- Temperature
It is an essential environmental factor that can influence the growth of the organisms. Most of
the pathogens grow at 37 0 C (body temperature).

0
we

We

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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
2- Temperature
• Minimum temperature

• The lowest temperature that allows the growth .

•toThere is no growth below minimum temperature.

• Below minimum temperature cell membrane solidifies and

become stiff to transport nutrients in to the cell, hence no growth
occurs.
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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
2- Temperature
• Maximum temperature

• The highest temperature that allows growth.

• There is no growth above maximum temperature.

• Above maximum temperature, cellular proteins and enzymes

denatures, so the growth of microorganism ceases.

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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
2- Temperature
• Optimum temperature

• At optimum temperature the growth rate becomes maximum.

• Promotes the metabolism and multiplication of

microorganism.

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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
2- Temperature
• Groups of microbes on the basis of the optimum
temperature range

• Mesophile

• Psychrophile

• Thermophile

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21 BIO0336
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22 BIO0336
23 BIO0336
Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
3- pH level
• The acidity or alkalinity of an environment can greatly affect microbial
growth

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5s BIO0336
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25 BIO0336
Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
4- Oxygen
• Organisms that use molecular oxygen (O2), produce more energy from nutrients than

anaerobes.

• Microorganisms can be classified based on their oxygen requirements into two groups:

1- Aerobes

2- Anaerobes

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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
4- Oxygen

a
b

__ c

d
00000
e

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 Toxic Forms of Oxygen
1- Several toxic forms of oxygen can be formed in the cell
as the result of respiration.

2- Hydrogen peroxide is one of those forms (H2O2).

3- The toxic forms can be neutralized by enzymes as

catalase.

H2O2 + H2O2 2H2O + O2

Anaerobic Bacteria can not produce catalase enzyme.

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Physical (environmental) Factors affecting microbial
growth
5- Osmotic Effect and water activity
we
• Osmotic effects in habitats with high salt environments have reduced water
availability.

We
Extreme or obligate halophiles : require high osmotic pressure.

Facultative halophiles : tolerate high osmotic pressure.

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