Abstract
Several physical properties of spores of Bacillus megaterium, such as vapor pressure isotherm, complex dielectric constant, nuclear magnetic resonance absorption spectrum, as well as water sorption and desorption rates, were studied in comparison with those of vegetative cells of the same organism with respect to content and form of the cell water. Spores showed larger water content as compared with vegetative cells in the humidity range of less than 78% (R. H.) at 30°, while they showed smaller water content over more humid ranges up to 100% (R. H.). Spores showed a smaller dielectric loss at a microwave frequency of 10Gc and a broader NMR absorption pattern than vegetative cells. These facts are discussed briefly in terms of molecular motion of the cell water in spores and vegetative cells.
