Value of heterogeneity of bacteria population created by the process of dissociation for the growth of purple photosynthetic bacteria in their natural habitat

Abstract

For the first time, R- and M-dissociants were isolated from the population of purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus, and their growth under different luminance and aeration conditions was studied. Earlier, similar experiments were conducted with R- and M-dissociants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The physiological-biochemical differences of connatural bacterial species correlate with the distinctions of their inhabitation: Rhb.spheroides isolated from the soil is characterized by low speed of growth along with the ability to grow in dark and aerobiotic places demonstrated only by M-dissociant, which offers this species an advantage in adaptation for limited and heterogeneity space. Being extracted from the water, rapidly growing Rhb. capsulatus is better adapted for habitation at a free space.