%0 Journal Article %A HITCHINS, A. D. %T Factors Influencing the Extent of Germination of Bacillus coagulans Spore Populations %D 1968 %J Microbiology, %V 54 %N 2 %P 247-254 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-54-2-247 %I Microbiology Society, %X SUMMARY: The rate of germination of populations of spores of Bacillus coagulans decreased as germination progressed, late-germinating spores exhibiting a delay or decreased probability of germination. Delayed germination was not due to changes occurring in the environment during germination. Colonies formed by delayed individuals had a similar morphology to those produced by the rest of the population. Delayed individuals constituted not more than 5% of the total spore population. In a sample containing 17 delayed individuals, 14 gave spore populations with initial germination rates like that of the parent population, while three yielded populations which germinated at much slower rates. Delayed germination still occurred in spore populations grown from single colonies of the parent population. It was concluded that the spore populations were heterogeneous with regard to germination; reasons for the heterogeneity are discussed. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-54-2-247