Dependence of the maximum temperature for growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on nutrient concentration.

Saccharomyces cerevisae was grown in a chemostat under glucose limitation at three superoptimal temperatures. In each steady state the specific growth rate was the sum of the dilution rate and the specific death rate, exponential death occurring with exponential growth. The specific death rate was a function of both the temperature and the concentration of the limiting nutrient. Each superoptimal temperature was characterized by a critical glucose concentration below which net growth was not possible. The critical glucose concentration increased with the temperature. Consequently the maximum temperature for growth was a function of the concentration of the limiting nutrient and approached the optimum temperature for growth with decreasing glucose concentrations.