Influence of prophage on the efficiency of plating of Escherichia coli K12.

The efficiency of plating of Escherichia coli K12 and its derivatives K12 C600 and K12 C600(lambda) is diminished during the transition period from the lag of the exponential growth phase in cultures grown in tryptone broth. The phenomenon is suppressed in cultures of the strain K12 C600(lambda ind). The reduction in the efficiency of plating is transitory and not influenced by temperature between 30 and 42 degrees C.