Phenotypic Characteristics of the Bacillus subtilis Group (after ASM Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 10th Edition)
| Character | B. subtilis | B. licheniformis | B. pumilus | B. amyloliquefaciens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rod Mean Diameter (μM) | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Chains of Cells | No | Variable | No | Variable |
| Spore Shape | E | E (C) | C, E | E |
| Spore Position | S, C | S, C | S, C | S, C |
| Motility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Catalase Activity | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oxidase Activity | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable |
| Anaerobic Growth | No | Yes | No | No |
| Growth: | ||||
| 50°C | Variable | Yes | Variable | Variable |
| 65°C | No | No | No | No |
| Casein, Starch, and Gelatin Hydrolysis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nitrate Reduction | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Gas from Carbohydrates | No | No | No | No |
| Acid from: | ||||
| D-arabinose | No | No | No | No |
| Glycerol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Glycogen | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Inulin | Variable | Variable | No | No |
| Mannitol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Salicin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| n-Trehalose | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Beta Hemolysis | No | No | No | No |
| Growth at pH 5 | No | No | No | No |
| Pathogenicity | Non-pathogenic | Non-pathogenic | Non-pathogenic | Non-pathogenic |
Key: For spore shape E = ellipsoidal; S = spherical; C = cylindrical and for spore position; C = central; S = subterminal; T = terminal.