Induction ability of excess phosphate accumulation for phosphate removing bacteria

By the induction method of alternating anaerobic incubation with organic substrates and aerobic incubation without organic substrates for aerobically grown cells, a bacterium isolated from an activated sludge showed distinct functions of excess phosphate accumulating bacteria which release phosphate with a concomitant uptake of organic substrates anaerobically and take up phosphate aerobically. The enzyme system of excess phosphate accumulation was induced only after at least two anaerobic/aerobic cycles.