highly significantP = 1.10 × 10 −13
Highly significant Day × Carnosine interactions were observed for all three mutant strains ( otsA , P = 1.10 × 10 −13 ; glgA , P = 1.22 × 10 −9 ; glgA otsA , P = 4.44 × 10 −13 ), demonstrating carnosine’s strong protective effect on competitive fitness.