First Generation Synchrony of Isolated Hyphomicrobium Swarmer Populations

A method is described for obtaining synchronously growing swarmer cell populations of Hyphomicrobium sp. strain B-522. This was accomplished by isolating young swarmers from random cultures by centrifugation and filtration. Cell multiplication occurred during 38% of the growth cycle in populations synchronized in this manner. Observations were made of the changes in cellular morphology which occurred during the growth cycle. Of the 14.25 h required for the doubling in cell numbers, an average of 5 h passed before the swarmer cells began to develop their hyphae. This time varied over a range of 10 h. The time interval between the beginning of hyphal development and the beginning of bud formation was 3.5 to 4.5 h. The maturation of the first buds and their separation from the mother cells were completed in 5.5 h. The duration of these steps is compared to those measured previously in agar slide cultures.