July 15, 1924 
Bacterial Pustule of Soybean 
65 
Table III.— Fermentation of various carbon compounds by Bad. phaseoli from 
Lima bean (•initial P H 7.0) 
Carbon compound 
Age of culture and Ph concentration 
3 days 
5 days 7 days 11 days 
13 days 
Dextrose .... 
7.0 
7. 0 7. 2 7. 4 
7.6 
Saccharose_ ... 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 7.4 
7.6 
Lactose_ 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 j 7.4 
7.6 
Maltose__ _ 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 ! 7.4 
7.6 
Glycerin_ .. 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 7.4 
7.6 
Arabinose_ 
7.0 
7.0 7.0 i 7.2 
7.4 
Xylose__ _ 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 ! 7.4 
7.6 
Rhamnose_ _. 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 [ 7.4 
7.8 
Dextrin__ 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 7.4 
7.6 
Salicin__ __ 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 7.4 
7.6 
Mannitol_ _ .. 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 7.4 
7.8 
Inulin___ 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 7.4 
7.8 
Galactose_ 
7.0 
7.0 7.2 7.2 
7.4 
Table IV. —Fermentation of various carbon compounds by strain of Bad. phaseoli 
from Washington, D. C. (initial Ph 7.0) 
Dextrose. 
Saccharose. 
Lactose_ 
Maltose... 
Glycerin.. _ 
Arabinose. 
Xylose_ 
Rhamnose. 
Dextrin.... 
Salicin_ 
Mannitol.. 
Inulin_ 
Galactose.. 
Carbon compound 
Age of culture and Ph concentration 
3 days 
5 days 
7 days 
11 days 
13 days 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.4 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.6 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.2 
7.6 
7.0 
7.0 1 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 1 
7.0 
7.4 
7.6 
7.0 
j 
,0, 
7.0 
7.2 
7.4 
It is evident from an analysis of the 
data presented in these tables that the 
soybean pustule organism and the 
several strains of Bad. phaseoli are 
identical so far as concerns their 
inability to utilize any of these carbons 
as the source of energy and that they 
can not therefore be separated on their 
fermentation relations. The increase 
in alkalinity, as appears in all cultures 
with all sugars, develops from the 
decomposition of the proteins, as 
shown by growth in plain bouillon. 
Gas production. —These tests were 
conducted by using fermentation tubes 
filled with portions of the same solu¬ 
tions as were used in the fermentation 
tests. These tubes were sterilized 
prior to filling and were incubated for 
48 hours after being filled to determine 
their freedom from contamination. 
They were then inoculated in sets of 
four with each of the several strains. 
No gas was developed in the case of 
any of the 13 carbon compounds, and 
99179—25t-2 
growth was sharply limited to the open 
arm in all media with each of the 
strains. 
Nitrogen metabolism. —Unfortu¬ 
nately, no considerable significance has 
been attached to the nitrogen meta¬ 
bolism of bacteria in relation to the 
determination of species. This matter 
has been based largely upon their 
fermentative ability. It would appear 
that plant pathogenic bacteria, es¬ 
pecially those which attack few or no 
carbon compounds, as is the case with 
those under consideration, might be 
separated upon the basis of differences 
in nitrogen metabolism were methods 
of study known. The writer’s attempts 
in this direction have been limited to 
the employment of a few nitrogenous 
compounds, added as nutrients to a 
stock synthetic agar. This agar was 
prepared according to the following 
formula: Distilled water, 1,000 cc.; 
magnesium sulphate, 0.5 gm.; di¬ 
potassium hydrogen phosphate, 1.0 
