Isolation and partial characterization of marine actinomycetes

Appreciating the potential of actinomycetes in the present biotechnological scenario, a research work was carried out for isolation and screening of marine actinomycetes and the preliminary findings of isolation and steps for partial characterization of marine actinomycetes are presented. A total of 20 actinomycetes were isolated from the three sampling site, 10 from Sanghumukham, 7 from Vizhinjam and 3 from Veli coast which comes to about 50%, 35 % and 15% are from the sampling sites respectively. The morphological characters of the strains were identified using cover slip method. Biochemical characterizations (gram staining, Methyl red and Voges Proskaeur test (MR-VP), Gelatinase test, Oxidase test, Urea hydrolysis, Catalase test and Starch hydrolysis) of the isolated actinomycetes strains were done using standard procedures and the results are shown. The methodologies of the tests are also elaborated in the paper.