Morphological and Biochemical Characterization of Novel Cellulose and Starch Degrading Bacteria Isolated from the Rhizospheric Soil of Dendrocalamus minor and Musa sp.

Abstract

The rhizosphere is the most active region of soil where plants and microorganisms live in close association and exhibit complex interactions. In the present study, rhizospheric soil samples were collected from bamboo and banana growing well in University of North Bengal campus. Cellulolytic and amylolytic bacteria were isolated from these samples through serial dilution technique and were identified on the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics. The study showed presence of four isolates mostly from genera Bacillus sp. from rhizosphere of bamboo capable of degrading cellulose while five isolates (Rummeliibacillus sp., Lysinibacillus, Brevibacillus, and Bacillus) from rhizosphere of banana and degrade starch respectively. The study although preliminary but will prove valuable for the extraction of these enzymes from these rhizospheric isolates and will be highly appreciated for their application in biotechnology sector.