Isolation, Screening and In Vitro Mutational Assessment of Indigenous Soil Bacteria for Enhanced Capability in Petroleum Degradation

A total of 25 bacterial isolates from petroleum contaminated soil in various niches were screened for degradative ability. Out of which three strains showed increased activities. Standard morphological and biochemical analysis identified up to generic level show that they belong to Micrococcus sp, Staphylococcus sp and Pseudomonas sp. The isolated strains were enriched and assessed for degrading activity after UV mutagenesis. Optimization parameters were standardized in various temperature, pH, Nitrogen source and Carbon source. Prominent degradation was found for Micrococcus sp and Staphylococcus sp at 37°C, pH – 7.0, Carbon source as Petrol – 15uL and Nitrogen source as Calcium nitrate tetra hydrate, whereas Pseudomonas sp showed a significant elevation in activity compared to Micrococcus and Staphylococcus sp. The parameters optimized for Pseudomonas sp depict that they are viable at 43°C, pH – 8.0, Carbon source as Petrol – 15uL and Peptone as Nitrogen source. Optimization and mutagenesis show that UV mutant Pseudomonas sp showed prominent activity and most promising in the field of petroleum degradation. The study is novel as we propose that UV mutagenesis inducts an increased activity in indigenous bacteria possessing petroleum degradative activity.