Isolation and identification of exopolysaccharide producing Enterobacter clocae from root nodules of Cicer arietinum

Twenty bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of Cicer arietinum, out of which 5 showed good exopolysaccharide production. These were screened in yeast extract mannitol broth for maximum exopolysaccharide production. YC23 bacterial strain showed maximum exopolysaccharide production (0.6g/l) on dry weight basis 500 μg/ml when measured by assay method. It was identified as Enterobacter clocae.