ABSTRACT. One of the two methanogenic endosymbionts of the giant sapropelic amoeba Pelomyxa palustris was isolated in pure culture. The cells were slender non‐motile rods (3 × 0.4 μm), sometimes occurring in chains of 3–4 cells. Ultrathin sections revealed a Gram‐positive cell wall and conically pointed ends with mesosome‐like structures in the cytoplasm. The isolate had a generation time of 10 and 12 h during growth on H2/CO2 and formate, respectively. The optimum growth temperature was 40°C and the optimum pH was 7.8. The G+C content of its DNA was found to be 37.7% mole percent. The isolate was identified as Methanobacterium formicicum.
The use of rapeseed meal for animal feeding is limited by the presence of antinutritional compounds, such as glucosinolates. An in vitro rumen system was used to test the effect of L-5-vinyloxazolidine-2-thione GEERTMAN ET AL.(VOT), a toxic hydrolysis product from glucosinolates found in rapeseed. The effect of VOT on rumen performance was minimal. The VOT was degraded efficiently (60-70%) in the artificial rumen system, when rapeseed was fed batchwise at 20% (w/w) of the diet. The degradation of VOT is caused by bacteria because the addition of the (oil containing) rapeseed resulted in a disappearance of ciliated protozoa. Experiments with pure VOT resulted in complete degradation both in batch (2 mM) and in continuous culture (4 mM).
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