Flow microcalorimetric investigation of yeast growth in a complex medium.

The growth of Kluyveromyces fragilis in a complex medium under anaerobic and aerobic growth conditions has been conducted using a flow microcalorimeter. Growth under defined conditions is characterized by an initial exponential rise in heat output rate to a maximum, followed by a decline to a baseline deflection. Inadequate oxygenation can result in a more structured thermogram. The results are used to illustrate the deficiencies of some calorimetric incubations, and observations reported by other authors are critically discussed.