Env Exp Biol (2012) 10: 77–80

Factors influencing adhesion of Pseudomonas putida on porous clay ceramic granules

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine factors affecting adhesion of bacteria Pseudomonas putida on porous clay ceramic granules. The number of colony-forming units (CFU) of P. putida on Devonian clay granules sintered at temperature of 1100°C after 4-h-long incubation was estimated. The level of the adhesion significantly (P < 0.05) depended on temperature, pH value, ionic strength of the medium and initial bacterial concentration. The optimum pH for bacterial adhesion was about pH 6. Temperature of 30°C was more appropriate for the adhesion than temperature of 20°C. Negative correlation was observed between the number of adhered bacteria and ionic strength (r = –0.84) in the medium and between the number of bacterial CFU in the suspension and ionic strength (r = –0.77) in the medium over the range from 0 to 200 mM NaCl. Investigated concentrations of bacterial suspension up to 11 log CFU mL–1 did not reach saturation of bacteria on the surface of granules. The adhesion intensity appears to be sufficient for subsequent development of bacterial colonies in adequate environmental conditions.