Abstract
An account was given of the behaviour of a number of sugers and organic acids in presence of resting Rh. trifolii and Rh. melioti as activating sources and of methylene blue as the hydrogen acceptor. Rh. trifolii showed powerful property being greatest with fructose and Rh. meliloti with fructose, gluose and arabinose. Citric acid, malic acid and lactc acid were extremely good donators compared with succinic acid as a standard. Inhibition of oxydation by the cyanic acid showed that Rh. trifolii and Rh. meliloti were more resistant in M/1000 KCN than Rh. lupini and Rh. japonicum, whilst the latter was less feeble in M/100 KCN than the others, thus confirming the view that at least different oxygenase were present in the cell of module bacteria. Tests were made for enzymes reffered to as performing role of more or less importance in respiratory mechanism of the organism. In culture media where cells appeared to multiply vigorously, positive catalase test was more distinctly obtained with bacteria from clover, alfalfa and"genge" than those from lupine and soybean. Evidence on peroxydase production of Rh. japonicum, when considered together with its catalse production, revealed an important role of peroxydase in respiratory mechanism of soybean bacteria. It was shown taht the activity of indophenoloxydase, for which a color test was carried out with Nadi-reagent, was great with the fast grower.
