INFLUENCE OF CULTURE-MEDIUM AND GROWTH STAGE ON THE SURVIVAL OF BRADYRHIZOBIUM-JAPONICUM DURING DESICCATION AND STORAGE AT 2 RELATIVE HUMIDITIES

The influence of culture medium and growth stage of Bradyrhizobium jap onicum strain G49 on survival during desiccation was studied with liqu id cultures grown for 5 and 14 days on glucose- or glycerol-based medi a, with or without Naglutamate. They were exposed to short-term desicc ation and storage at 0% and 75% relative humidity (RH). Average death rate during the experiment was similar at 0% and 75% RH, but after moi sture equilibration, death rate was higher at 75% than at O% RH. The c omposition of the culture medium influenced survival and death rate of B. japonicum. In general, glucose alone in the medium appeared to all ow a higher survival than the glycerol-based medium. Survival of the b radyrhizobial cells decreased when glutamate was added to glucose, and increased when glutamate was added to glycerol. Five-day old cultures survived as well or better than 14-day old cultures.