Cultural factors influencing the utilization or production of acetate by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens.

Utilization of acetate by four strains of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens was influenced by the composition of their growth medium. Growth-limiting glucose concentrations, low availability of CO2 and the presence of sodium lactate all stimulated acetate uptake by three strains. The type strain, D1, utilized acetate if the concentration of acetate added to the medium was at least 15 mumol ml-1. In batch culture, all strains produced acetate before entering a phase of acetate uptake. Continuous-culture studies with one strain showed that acetate uptake was dependent upon growth rate. The amount of n-butyrate produced in batch or continuous culture was closely linked to the amount of acetate taken up.