In order to clarify the taxonomic problems which exist among the group azotobacter by serological method, 24 cultures of Azotobacter including 9 species were tested as antigens in Ouchterlony plates against 3 different antisera obtained from rabbits immunized with A. chroococcum ACl6, A. macrocytogenes St.M. and A. vinelandii 12837, respectively. The results showed more cross reactivity in intraspecies reactions than in interspecies ones and indicated the presence of a common immunogenic determinant. This work presents the results which suggest the effecient classification of Azotobacter by Ouchterlony comparisons of corresponding antigens in different species.

The purpose of this research was to reveal the morphological and cytological characteristics of Azotobacter vinelandii cells cultured in dialyzed soil medium. Culture samples taken at two, four, eight, sixteen and thirty-two days were prepared and examined with the electron microscope. Comparisons of the morphology of Azotobacter vinelandii grown in dialyzed soil medium with those grown in Burk's nitrogen-free, chemically-defined medium were done.

Light and electron microscopy were employed to study the encystment and germination processes in Azotobacter. Data obtained from frozen-etched replicas and chemically fixed cells revealed that as encystment occurs, the cells become rounded, and lose their motility.

This research deals with the changes in cellular morphology of Azotobacter vinelandii cultured on nutrient agar. In particular, this study is concerned with the formation of intracellular particles and a description of their size and sequence of appearance. Changes in morphology of Azotobacter vinelandii grown on nutrient agar are contrasted photographically with morphology of Azotobacter vinelandii grown on Burk's nitrogen free medium.

The objective of this investigation was to examine the changes in the nucleotide pools of Azotobacter vinelandii during the growth cycle. Endogenous ribonucleotides were extracted from A. vinelandii using trichloroacetic acid (TCA; 12% w/v). The 5' mono-, di- and triphosphates of adenine, guanine, uracil and cytosine were separated and quantified by anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography. Results indicated that the adenylate energy charge of A. vinelandii paralleled the growth rate during exponential phase and that it declined rapidly as the stationary phase was reached. In addition, the amount of each nucleotide in A. vinelandii tended to increase in the logarithmic phase and decrease in the stationary phase in a similar manner to the energy charge.

This study used polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to study the acid-phenol soluble proteins of five strains (A. vinelandii 12837, A. vinelandii 0, A. chroococcum 8004, A. macrocytogenes 8702, A. tumefaciens) of bacteria grown on Burk's nitrogen-free media, Trypticase Soy Broth, and 0.3% butanol medium. The results showed that the protein patterns can be used for the identification and possibly the taxonomic classification of the Azotobacter. The change of phenotype of the bacteria in different media followed the change of protein quantity and quality. There was no absolute similarity between any two of the species studied and this suggests a genetically heterogenous group of organisms while the amount of common proteins suggests close genetic relationships. Further studies are necessary to confirm the status of A. tumefaciens.

This study was designed to determine the effect of inorganic phosphate in the growth media of A. vinelandii on the synthesis and accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and cellular morphology. Burk's media with no added phosphate and ten times normal phosphate resulted in altered cells, lower levels of protein, and decreased cell populations. PHB accumulation was much higher in the cultures with no added phosphate; however, the polymer granules differed in appearance from those of normal cells and had a decreased rate of utilization. The amount of PHB deposited in cells grown in media containing ten times the normal phosphate level was lower than that found in regular media.

Chromosomal DNA of A. vinelandii thought to carry multiple gene copies was examined in efforts to visualize its chromosomal structure using electron microscopy. The chromosomal DNA of A. vinelandii may have multiple circular genomic units carrying multiple copies of genes. Three possible branch construction schemes and their replication modes are postulated in this study.

This research describes the changes in cell morphology of Azotobacter vinelandii cells cultured in dialyzed soil medium. This particular culture medium was assumed to provide the bacteria with an environment similar to their natural habitat, the soil.

The objectives of this research were to identify the form of Azotobacter as it exists in situ in the soil; to compare its resistance to that of laboratory grown cysts typical of those described in the literature; and to compare its resistance to that of cells grown on dialyzed soil agar. In addition, the morphology of the cells grown on dialyzed soil agar was examined by light and electron microscopy and then compared to the cysts grown on n-butanol Burk's medium. Dipicolinic acid and oxygen uptake rate were measured in cysts and on cells grown on dialyzed soil agar in order to determine whether the cells grown on dialyzed soil agar were endospores or other dormant form and also to measure the respiratory quotient in these cells.