Isolation, Screening and Characterization of Marine Bacteria for Exopolysaccharide Production

Exopolysaccharides are polymers of carbohydrates secreted by some bacteria and fungi outside their cell walls. Marine microorganisms have significant osmotic tolerance and leading to produce exopolysaccharide even at higher salt concentration. The exopolysaccharide producing bacteria were isolated from marine environment. The marine soil samples and marine water samples were collected from sea coast of Dandi, Navsari and Tithal, Valsad. Total 13 morphological distinct colonies were obtained and 05 isolate were selected having mucoid colony characterization. All the 05 isolate were screened using string test and congo red agar test. Isolate VS2B was screened and evaluated to be more potent for exopolysaccharide production of 5.60 mg/ml in Zobell marine broth on 4th day of incubation. The molecular identification of VS2B isolate was carried out by 16S rRNA sequencing and identified as Bacillus subtilis. Thus, this study demonstrates VS2B isolate may prove to be potential strain for commercial production of exopolysaccharide.