Actinomycetes from vermicompost as potential source for bioactive compounds

Actinomycetes attribute to plant growth promotion as well as bio control abilities leading to increased agricultural yields and food safety. Earthworm castings present in vermicompost can be an imperative resource for bio prospecting novel actinomycetes. In the present investigation vermicompost was prepared using different organic substrates like Arachis hypogeal shell, Cocos nucifera mesocarp, Oryza sativa husk, Calophyllum inophyllum seed coat and Saw dust. Actinomycetes were isolated using Standard plate count (SPC) technique and identified based on colony morphology and microscopic appearance. The isolates obtained were screened for their inhibitory activity against human and plant pathogenic organisms by agar plug method. Amongst 50 isolates screened, GNSVA4 showed good antifungal activity. Molecular characterization of the isolate GNSVA4, showing good inhibitory activity was done using 16s RNA technique. This suggests that microbes established from vermicompost exhibit antimicrobial activity which can be used for suppression of pathogens in soil, further increasing the crop yield and improving human health.