GROWTH AND VIABILITY OF ALCALIGENES-EUTROPHUS JMP134 IN SEAWATER AS AFFECTED BY SUBSTRATE AND NUTRIENT AMENDMENT

Growth and viability of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134 was studied in la boratory microcosms with 0.2 mu m-filtered seawater prior to release i n field-based mesocosms. In unamended systems JMP134 did not grow and viability, measured as direct viable counts combined with immunofluore scence microscopy, was 40-50%. Addition of a nitrogen+phosphorus nutri ent mixture caused a greater growth response than amendment with a car bon substrate. Amendment with substrate and/or nutrients caused an inc rease in viability to cn 100% but only for a brief period coinciding w ith cell proliferation. Hence, Ale. eutrophus JMP134 has a limited sur vival potential in seawater unless it is supplied with additional nutr ients.