Question

What is the significance of the industrial practice of waiting for cultures to enter the stationary phase of growth before harvest?

a. An optimal combination of primary and secondary metabolites is being produced.
b. Secondary metabolites are often the desired product, and are only produced in stationary phase.
c. The desired primary metabolites are produced in stationary phase.
d. The cells are at peak metabolic activity.
e. Potential toxins from log phase growth have been depleted

Answer 1

Answer: b. Secondary metabolites are often the desired product, and are only produced in stationary phase.

Step-by-step explanation:

The secondary metabolites are the organic compounds that are produced by the microbes such as bacteria, fungi and even by the plants. These are not involved in the growth, development and reproduction of the organisms. But they can provide a advantage for the survival. It helps in plant defense against the process of herbivory and other interspecies defense. Humans take the secondary metabolites from these organisms in the form of medicines, pigments, and recreational drugs.

The secondary metabolites are produced only in the stationary phase of growth. Thus it is significant for the collection of these secondary metabolites in the stationary phase.