Growth of Pediococcus soyae nov. sp. in Highly Concentrated Solutions of Inorganic Salts and Sugars

Pediococcus soyae nov. sp., which has an inherited salt tolerant nature, is grown in solutions of high osmotic pressure. When this strain is transferred from 0.5% salted medium to a new medium containing 18% sodium chloride, the viable counts of this organism firstly decrease from about one half to one-third of the inoculated cells, and then normal growth occurs. This indicates the occurrence of physiological adaptation at an early stage of growth.

The growth of this lactic acid bacterium is observed in concentrated solutions of various inorganic salts. The solutions containing Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^?, NO₃^? and SO₄^{– –} ions are not toxic for the organism, and the organism can grow in solutions of 133 atm. osmotic pressure, generally. However, Li⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ and Br⁺ are, toxic for growth.

In concentrated sugar solutions, this organism also propagates well, and growth is observed in the media containing 50% glucose or 60% sucrose, osmotic pressure being 105 and 84 atm., respectively. Therefore, Pediococcus soyae nov. sp. is osmotolerant.