Studies of the origin of bacterial viruses. VI. Effect of manganese on the proportion of phage-producing. terramycin-resistant, streptomycin-resistant, and phage-resistant cells in lysogenic megatherium cultures.

Exposure of B. megatherium 899 to about 5 x 10(-3)M MnCl(2) for 10 minutes at 25 degrees C. results in an increase of about ten times in the proportion of phage-producing cells, terramycin-resistant cells, streptomycin-resistant cells, and phage-resistant cells. The proportion of phage-producing cells reaches a maximum in about 4 hours and that of the other cells is reached in about 8 hours.