A theoretical explanation of the priming effect based on microbial growth with two limiting substrates

Hanna Parnas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

A theoretical and experimental analysis of the effects of substrate ratio on microbial growth is presented. The effects of change in the ratio of two substrates (C and N) is given as an example for the theoretical model. Average growth rate (population biomass at time t, divided by t), as opposed to steady-state growth rate, is introduced as a better measure of growth rate in a changing environment. The main results of the theoretical model and the experimental example are: (a) microbial population yield at the stationary phase is maximal when the initial ratio between the substrates, equals the stoichiometric ratio (the required ratio for growth); (b) the time in which the population is growing until it reaches the stationary phase, is also maximal when the initial ratio equals the stoichiometric ratio; (c) the average growth rate as a function of the initial. C/N ratio approaches a curve with one maximum point which is when the initial ratio equals the stoichiometric ratio. The results of the dependence of the average growth rate on the C/N ratio of the substrate are used to explain the "priming effect".

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)139-144
Number of pages6
JournalSoil Biology and Biochemistry
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1976
Externally publishedYes

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