Periodic samples were surface plated, in duplicate, for cfu
counting; agar plates were prepared from both solid ice plant
juice-based medium (crude juice diluted to 1:40 with distilled
water, v/v) and solid CCM. Growth curves were plotted and
doubling times were calculated [16]: Growth rate (K)=Log
Nt Log N0/Log 2 (Tt T0); doubling time (dt) = 1/K, where
N0 =viable cell contents at T0, T0 = time at the beginning of
determination, Nt=viable cell contents at Tt, Tt= time of
determination