An easy method for screening and isolating rod mutants of Bacillus subtilis

A convenient and rapid method for screening and identifying rod mutants of Bacillus subtilis is described. At the restrictive temperature (45°C), all rod mutants of B. subtilis screened lost their ability to sporulate. The morphology and colour of mutant colonies grown on sporulation agar plates differed from those of rod⁺ cells, which were able to sporulate even at elevated temperature. These characteristics provide an alternative approach for the identification of rod mutants in B. subtilis culture by streaking the cells onto a minimal glucose agar plate and incubating at the restrictive temperature. After 30 h of incubation at this temperature, rod mutants are easily identified. This method will facilitate the screening and isolation of rod mutants of B. subtilis. © Springer-Verlag 2003.