Isolation and characterization of microorganisms from mangrove soil of CBD Belapur creek, Navi Mumbai, MS India

In the present study, mangrove soil samples from five different stations of CBD Belapur (19° 1′ 25.33″ N, 73° 2′ 27.65″ E) Navi-Mumbai, MS, India, were collected for the isolation of micro-organisms. Among the soil samples screened, all gram positive isolates were obtained. Out of all the isolates, fourteen distinct isolates were selected and characterized. On the basis of biochemical tests, the isolates were assigned to the genera Bacillus. All the isolates demonstrated very strong L-asparginase activity, whereas few were positive for Protease and Amylase activity. Isolates were observed to grow at pH ranging from 7–8 and had temperature optima of 28°C and few had 55°C. Most of the organisms could tolerate about 300ppm of heavy metals in the form of AlCl₃, MnSO₄ and ZnSO₄; upto 1000ppm of K₂CrO₄ and only about 10 ppm of HgCl₂. In addition, a few of these isolates could tolerate more than 8% NaCl. Antibiotic efficacy of the isolates was studied, in which most of the organisms were sensitive to antibiotics tested except Penicillin G.