Magneto bacteria from estuarine, mangrove and coral reef environs in Gulf of Mannar

Abstract

Totally 37 strains from the three biota were isolated with predominance of <i>Bacillus </i>spp. followed by <i>Pseudomonas </i>spp. <i>Spirillium </i>spp., and <i>Vibrio </i>spp. Based on the fatty acid profile, a few of the strains were identified as <i>Pseudomonas mesophilico, Pseudomonas caryophylli </i>and <i>Bacillus cereus. </i>Of the three biota studied, the coral reef harbours higher percentage of magnetotactic bacteria followed by the mangroves and estuaries. The strains were further studied for growth, salinity optimum, magnetotaxis and survival. The bacterial growth was observed as a ring form ion between 7 and 14 days

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;="" mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">of inoculation. The distance to the ring from the top surface of culture medium ranged from 0.5 to 4.6 cm. The ring was prominent in a salinity of 20 ppt. Regarding magnetotaxis, a 3 h exposure to the external magnetic field was required for 100% aggregation of bacterial cells. The magnetobacleria isolated from coral reef were able to survive for 5 to 6 months whereas those from mangroves and estuaries survived for 4 and 2 months respectively.</span>