DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT AND EPS PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF CULTIVABLE BACTERIA FROM THE SAMPLES OF COASTAL SITE OF ALANG

Abstract

In this study diversity of cultivable bacteria and their exopolysaccharide production potential were investigated from the water and sediment samples of coastal site of ALang. The studied ten samples represented diversity in pH, conductivity, salinity and TDS, in the range of 7.25 to 8.92, 9.4 to 76.8 mS, 3570 to 35100 mg/L and 15120 to 53100 mg/L respectively. Total 141 bacteria were isolated from the collected ten samples, from which 105 were gram positive and 36 were gram negative in nature. Amongst the isolates 33% were able to produce variety of pigments. The diversity indices, including Shannon-Wiener index (H’), Richness, and Evenness Indices based on the metabolic characteristics of the organisms were calculated. The isolates were characterized morphologically and biochemically. Identification of 41 isolates was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. They represented 22 genera and various species of these genera. The bacterial isolates were able to grow in the range of 3-25% NaCl concentrations. When 141 cultures were grown in liquid medium, the viscosity of the medium ranged between 9.20x10-6 to 2.09x10-4 m.pa.s-1. The EPS yield in terms of dry weight also ranged from 0.76 to 10.7g/L.