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A Simple Method for Laboratory Propagation of Cellulolytic Mixtures of Rumen Bacteria¹

Departments of Dairy Husbandry and Bacteriology, Kansas State College, Manhattan

ABSTRACT

The ready availability in the laboratory of actively cellulolytic bacterial cultures from the rumen would be helpful in studying aspects of cellulose digestion. Laboratory propagation of cellulolytic mixtures of organisms will alter the balance of types and may influence certain characteristics of the organisms involved. But, if the culture complex retains its cellulolytic characteristics in vitro and also digests cellulose when tested later in vivo, the technique will help in investigating some characteristics of cellulose digestion. Simplicity of procedure is believed to be essential to extensive, replicated studies.

In our laboratory, initial efforts to propagate cellulolytic mixtures of rumen organisms were unsuccessful beyond three or four subcultures. After testing a variety of techniques and media, a relatively simple procedure was developed. The method is a modification of test-tube techniques for detecting digestion of filter paper or parchment (2, 4). The procedure permitted routine propagation of cellulolytic cultures over prolonged periods and made them readily available in the laboratory for study.

¹ Contribution No. 268, Department of Dairy Husbandry, and No. 339, Department of Bacteriology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan.