Mangrove microflora as potential source of hydrolytic enzymes for commercial applications

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize mangrove microflora based on their hydrolytic enzyme production. A collection of 100 microorganisms including bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and yeasts was isolated. The ability of microbial isolates to degrade hydrolytic enzymes such as amylase, cellulase, chitinase, glutaminase, laccase, ligninase, lipase, protease and tyrosinase were tested and the potent strains were identified based on 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing. More than 90% of the isolates exhibited amylolytic and proteolytic activity. Potent isolates were identified as: <em>Bacillus subtilis </em>(MB1),<em> Bacillus amyloliquefaciens </em>(MB11),<em> Bacillus megaterium </em>(MB23), <em>Bacillus mojavensis </em>(MB28)<em>, Streptomyces galbus </em>(MA7),<em> Streptomyces </em>sp. (MA3), <em>Candida parapsilopsis </em>(MY6), <em>Candida etchellsi </em>(MY1),<em> Penicillium citrinum </em>(MF5),<em> Aspergillus stellifer </em>(MF12) and<em> Emericella </em>sp. (MF18). These microbes as well as the enzymes are of potential importance for commercial applications as bioremediators, detergent additives and nutritional supplements.