Three Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from food or food-processing environments were used to assess the response of this species to salinity in a chemically defined minimal medium. Growth in a minimal medium containing five essential amino acids and glucose as a carbon and energy source was comparable to growth in a rich medium (brain heart infusion broth). In the absence and presence of 3% NaCl the final cell numbers reached in minimal medium were 10(9) and 10(7) CFU/ml, respectively. Growth under the latter conditions could not be detected by spectrophotometry by measuring A660. Apparently, this technique was not suitable for these experiments since the detection level was > 10(7) CFU/ml. Exogenously added proline (10 mM), trimethylglycine (betaine) (1 mM), and beta-hydroxy-gamma-N-trimethyl aminobutyrate (carnitine) (1 mM) significantly stimulated growth under osmotic stress conditions in minimal medium at both 37 and 10 degrees C. Betaine and carnitine are present in foods derived from plants and animals, respectively. Therefore, these compounds can contribute significantly to growth of L. monocytogenes in various foods at high osmolarities.