Cellulolytic Potential of Actinomycetes Isolated from Different Habitats

Abstract

Twenty actinomycete isolates capable of utilizing lignocellulosic biomass were isolated from different samples of agricultural field soil, compost and decaying vegetation. Qualitative screening of all isolates during plate assay method using Congo red showed 17 of them producing a clear zone of hydrolysis around the colonies indicating cellulose hydrolytic potential of the isolates. Quantitative estimation of filter paper (FPase) and carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activities exhibited by the positive isolates showed that highest CMCase was produced by NAA2 (0.366 IU/ml), while highest FPase activity of 0.075 FPU/ml was observed in NAA14. All of the isolates showed FPase activities comparable to that shown by C. fimi (0.023 FPU/ml) taken as a standard, confirming the cellulose degradation ability of the isolates.