The transcriptional control of the kdpFABC (K+ transport) operon of Salmonella typhimurium was characterized with a lacZ fusion. The kdpFABC operon of this organism was induced by K+ limitation and high osmolality, and osmotic induction was antagonized by a high concentration of K+. In the trkA (sapG) kdp+ mutant background, high concentrations of K+ inhibited growth, along with repressing the kdp operon. This result, which has not been reported for Escherichia coli, is inconsistent with the model in which the signal for the induction of the kdp operon is turgor loss.