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Nitrogen fixation by hydrogen-utilizing bacteria

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Abstract

Seventeen strains of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, isolated from different habitats on hydrogen and carbon dioxide as well as on other substrates, morphologically resembled each other. All strains, including Mycobacterium flavum 301, grew autotrophically with hydrogen. The isolate strain 6 was sensitive to oxygen when dependent on N2 as nitrogen source, a consequence of the sensitivity of its nitrogenase towards oxygen. At the same time, strain 6 was sensitive to hydrogen when growing autotrophically on N2 as nitrogen source, but hydrogen did not affect acetylene reduction by these cells.

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Abbreviations

MPN:

Most probable number

BS medium:

basal salts medium

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Microbiology, Agricultural University, Hesselink van Suchtelenweg 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J. A. M. De Bont & M. W. M. Leijten

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  1. J. A. M. De Bont
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  2. M. W. M. Leijten
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De Bont, J.A.M., Leijten, M.W.M. Nitrogen fixation by hydrogen-utilizing bacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 107, 235–240 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425333

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425333

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