Nutrition of Volvulina Playfair*

SYNOPSIS. Vitamin B 12 , biotin and thiamine requirements of 10 strains of Volvulina steinii and 1 strain of V. pringsheimii were studied. Vitamin B 12 is required for growth of both species, thiamine stimulates growth slightly, and biotin has no discernible effect on growth. The minimum concentration of vitamin B 12 giving a growth response in V. steinii , strain SC‐2, was 10 −8 g/ml, and maximum growth response was obtained with 1.1 × 10 −7 g/ml. An organic carbon source is required for growth of V. steinii but not of V. pringsheimii. Growth of V. steinii , strain SC‐2, occurred in 20 of 21 carbon sources tested. Optimal growth with each carbon source was largely dependent upon pH. Except for pyruvate, acetate, and ethanol, carbon source utilization was light‐dependent, and growth in ethanol was reduced in the dark. Isocitric lyase activity was detected in V. steinii grown on acetate medium.