Phenotypic and Molecular characterization of Epiphytic Vibrios from the marine macro algae of Andaman Islands, India.

Abstract

Biotic and abiotic components in the marine environment supports the growth of several surface associated microbial communities. Present study focuses on one such microbial community, the Vibrios associated to marine macro algae of Andaman Islands. A total of 48 strains comprising 10 species of Vibrios were isolated from 10 macro algal species. All the isolates were confirmed to genus level by both phenotypic and molecular characteristics, up to species level by biochemical tests. This study showed that Vibrio alginolyticus strains were frequently isolated from almost all the macro algae revealing its role as a common epiphyte. The present study signifies the abundance of Vibrios on the surface of marine macro algae which may be attributed to their ecological role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and/ or controlling the surface colonization of pathogens.