Growth of Aeromonas species on increasing concentrations of sodium chloride.

The growth of 16 strains of Aeromonas, representing 12 species of the genera, were examined at different salt levels (0-1.71 M NaCl). All the strains grew on media with 0.34 M NaCl, and nine on media with 0.68 M. Two strains, Aer. enteropelogenes and Aer. trota, were able to grow on media with 0.85 M and 1.02 M NaCl, respectively. Comparison of the growth curves of Aer. hydrophila ATCC7966 and Aer. trota ATCC 49657 on four concentrations of NaCl (0.08, 0.34, 0.68 and 1.02 M) confirm the high tolerance of Aer. trota, and indicate that high concentrations of salt increase the lag time and decrease the maximum growth rate. However, both strains were able to grow, slowly, in at least 0.68 M NaCl, a sodium chloride concentration currently used as food preservative.