Silage Bacteriology I. Water Activity and Temperature Relationships of Silage Strains of Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus Brevis, and Pediococcus Cerevisiae

Abstract

Logarithmic growth rates and apparent lag periods of Lb. plantarum, Lb. brevi8, and P. cere'Visiae are relatively resistant to lowering of the water activity of the growth medium. At 30°C, limiting water activity values for growth of these sp~cies have been found to be 0·920-0· 930, 0'945-0·950, and 0·930-0·940, respectively. No appreciable interaction of water activity and temperature, in relation to growth of these bacteria, could be demonstrated.