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Equalisation of specific growth rates for syntrophic associations in batch culture

1984; Wiley; Volume: 34; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/jctb.280340205

1935-1828

Godfrey E. Powell,

Crystallization and Solubility Studies

Abstract This paper describes an aspect of the growth dynamics exhibited by a ‘tight’ syntrophic association of two species in batch culture. Species X utilises substrate S and forms a product P. The substance P both inhibits the growth of X , by virtue of the thermodynamic back reaction, and constitutes the growth‐limiting substrate of the organism Y. It is predicted that the resulting dynamical balance in the level of P results in an equalisation of the specific growth rates of the two populations. It is demonstrated that the equalisation of specific growth rates is a characteristic property of tight syntrophic associations in general, and occurs whenever the growth dependencies on substances S and P satisfy certain qualitative conditions.