Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic growth of Lactobacillus plantarum in a glucose medium

The growth rate of Lactobacillus plantarum in a complex medium with 55.6 mM glucose decreased during aerobic incubation (relative to anaerobic incubation). The decrease occurred much earlier than an increase in the rate of oxygen utilization by the culture which led to H₂O₂ accumulation. The concentration of H₂O₂ accumulated in the medium was easily tolerated by the culture and elimination of the H₂O₂ did not prevent the decrease in growth rate. Increased O₂ utilization was accompanied by a switch in metabolism which resulted in acetate rather than lactate accumulation in aerobic cultures.