Table 4: Physiological characteristics of the soda lake bacterial isolates.

Isolate   pH of Growth(Optimum Growth) Growth at (oC) Growth in Presence of NaCl (w/v) Grouping
25 37 45 55 65 0 5 10 15 18
LBW 2719   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ + + +a ++ +b - - - Sub-group I Group 1Facultativelyalkaliphilic bacillusisolates
LBW 226   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ + + +a ++ +b - - -
LBW 318   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ + + +a ++ +b - - -
LBS 77   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ + + +a ++ +b - - -
LBK 261   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - - Sub-group II
LBW 4512   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 327   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 434   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 7526a   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 39   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 7526b   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 328   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBS 16   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 625   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 446   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 5117   7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ + - ++ ++ + - -
LBW 313   ˃ 7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ - - ++ ++ + + - Group 1Obligately alkaliphilic bacillus isolates
LBW 317   ˃ 7.0 - 11.0 (pH 10.5) + ++ ++ - - ++ ++ + + -

All isolates grew aerobically, except for isolates LBW 313 and LBW 317 which grew both aerobically and anaerobically. Key: +, Growth; ++, Optimum growth; +a, Poor growth after 72 h, better growth after 96 h; +b, Weak growth; -, no growth