Nitrate reduction in the genusChromobacterium

Summary Whether or not a strain ofChromobacterium is able to reduce nitrate completely depends upon the oxygen tension of the medium, the composition of the medium and the length of time the culture is incubated. Based upon action on nitrate only, the genus may be divided into three parts: those which reduce completely with or without gas production, those which reduce to nitrite only and those which do not reduce.