Fig. 6: Phenotypic characterization of the mutant Bt407ΔrfbM strain compared with the ancestor.

a The easily recognizable fuzzy spreader colony morphology by Bt407ΔrfbM suggests that disruption of the guanylyltransferase coding gene is responsible for the FS morphotype. b Aggregation phenotypes of Bt407ΔrfbM and FS variant compared with the ancestor. Aggregation (c) and hydrophobicity (d) index were characterized as described in the materials and methods (***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001; One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison tests between the ancestor as control and other groups). e Total carbohydrates determination of Bt407ΔrfbM and the ancestor. Asterisks indicate significant differences between each group and the ancestor (****p < 0.0001; Student’s unpaired two-tailed t-test was performed between samples within each condition). Error bars indicate standard error of the mean of independent biological samples (n = 3). f Fitness of Bt407ΔrfbM and FS morphotype in a 1:1 competitive experiment against the ancestor. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean (n = 6). Asterisks indicate a significant difference between the tested strains and the ancestor (****p < 0.0001; Student’s unpaired two-tailed t-test).