Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Indigenous Lactobacillus Species from Diverse Niches of India

Lactobacilli are well reckoned for their technological and probiotic significance and their exercise in dairy products for trade and industry. The present study was carried out to isolate and characterize Lactobacilli from various dairy and non dairy sources of Indian origin. The isolates were subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterizations followed by partial 16S rDNA sequencing. As many as 40 isolates were identified as Lactobacilli and among them 14 were identified as L.plantarum, 5 as L. fermentum, 5 as L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, 4 L. brevis, 2 L. pentosus and 1 isolate as L. mucosae. The great diversity was found with the place as well as source of collection.