Abstract
The aerobic decomposition of pectic substances by Erw. aroideae was examined. Experiments were performed by Warburg manometric technique, using intact cells of Erwinia aroideae. The results were as follows.
(1) Some strains of Erw. aroideae showed vigorous oxygen consumption, either immediately or after a lag-period when a purified pectin was added as the oxidation substrate.
(2) The oxygen uptake of Erw. aroideae No. 199, which always showed a lag period on the pectic oxidation, occurred immediately when the pectin was newly added again at the equilibrium phase of the first pectic oxidation. Such an immediate oxidation was entirely abolished when cells obtained at the phase mentioned above were washed with distilled water and soluble substances were removed away. However, the case was recovered by adding such a washing-liquid to the cells. Then, it was assumed that a certain soluble factor concerning pectic oxidation might be contained in the medium at the equilibrium phase of the first pectic oxidation.
(3) As for the pectic oxidation ability of Erw. aroideae, cells harvested from 0.2% pectin-bouillon culture are the most powerful and the optimum pH of the pectic oxidation is in the range of 7.0_??_8.0.
