Combined effect of temperature and salt concentration/water activity on the growth rate of Halobacterium spp.

Growth responses of the halophilic bacteria, Halobacterium sp. strain HB9 and Halobacterium salinarium strain CM42/12, to temperature and water activity/sodium chloride concentration were described by the square root model and T min (the theoretical minimum temperature for growth) was fixed. Little change in growth rate was observed in response to added NaCl at water activities below which cell lysis was avoided. Hence, growth of halobacteria on products such as salted, dried fish at water activities below 0.85 may be based on the square root temperature response without the need to incorporate a water activity term.