Relationships between initial nutrient concentration and total growth.

Ecker, R. E. (Iowa State University, Ames), and W. R. Lockhart. Relationships between initial nutrient concentration and total growth. J. Bacteriol. 82:80-84. 1961.-The relationship observed between maximal attainable growth in a microbial population and initial concentration of limiting nutrient depends upon the parameter selected for measurement of growth. A linear relationship is found only when cell mass is the parameter. When population is used as the measure of growth, the relationship is: N(max) = K'C(0) (s), where N(max) is the maximal attainable population, C(0) is the initial concentration of limiting nutrient and K' and s are constants. The use of this expression in demonstrating subtle differences between strains is shown.