Which of the following is considered the most important environmental factor influencing bacterial growth?

• A. Light intensity
• B. Oxygen concentration
• C. Temperature
• D. Salinity

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that bacterial growth is influenced by various environmental factors such as temperature, oxygen concentration, salinity, and light intensity.
2. Recognize that temperature affects the enzymatic activities and membrane fluidity of bacteria, which are critical for their metabolism and reproduction.
3. Consider oxygen concentration, which is important for aerobic bacteria but not for anaerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria, so its influence varies depending on the bacterial type.
4. Evaluate salinity and light intensity, which can affect some bacteria but generally are less universally critical compared to temperature.
5. Conclude that temperature is considered the most important environmental factor because it universally affects the biochemical processes essential for bacterial growth across most species.