During which phase do bacterial cells die exponentially?

Bacterial cells undergo exponential death during the death phase. This phase follows the stationary phase, where the growth rate slows as resources become scarce and waste products accumulate. In the death phase, the number of viable cells decreases at an exponential rate due to nutrient depletion and increased toxic byproducts. This exponential decline aligns with the rapid loss of cell viability as conditions become increasingly unfavorable for survival.

Understanding this phase is crucial because it highlights how environmental factors impact bacterial populations, which has significant implications in fields like microbiology, medicine, and environmental science.