Abstract
Effect of Mn^<2+> on the growth and γ-HCH (γ-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-hexachlorocyclohexane)-decomposing activity of a bacterium, Sphingomonas paucimobilis SS86, in liquid culture medium was examined to estimate the usefulness of Mn^<2+> as a regulator of microbial inocula in the environment. A low concentration (10 mg L^<-1>) of Mn^<2+> completely inhibited the growth of strain SS86 in diluted nutrient broth. The inhibitory effect of Mn^<2+> on the bacterial growth which was observed in a pH range of 6.0-7.5 was relatively weak under low pH (6.0) conditions. Gamma-HCH-decomposing activity of SS86 was also suppressed by Mn^<2+>, but the lowest inhibitory concentration of Mn^<2+> for the γ-HCH-decomposing activity was higher than that for bacterial growth. Mn^<2+> is considered to be an effective agent for the control of the growth and activity of bacterial inocula in the environment.
