ISOLATION, SCREENING AND PRODUCTION OF XYLANASE PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM SOIL

Abstract: Xylanases are a class of hydrolytic enzymes that degrade xylan which is present in lignocelluloses biomass. In this study 65 samples containing 32 soil samples were collected for isolation and screening purposes. Preliminary screening was done using Birchwood xylan by serial dilution and spread plate method. A total of four positive xylanase producing bacteria were recorded from the zone. Secondary screening by extracellular enzyme assay using DNS method showed highest enzyme activity for MV1 isolate which is 92U/ml. Morphological identification showed that the bacterial isolate as small, circular, slightly yellow, irregular, opaque , smooth, flat, shiny and gram positive rods. The positive strains were confirmed by 16SrRNA analysis. Blast analysis revealed that the sequence of strain MV1 found to be 99.84% similar to B. Substilis strain and the sequence length was 1340bp.