Exopolysaccharide producing halophilic Microorganisms from west coast of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Halophilic microorganisms are routinely isolated from saline environments like solar salterns, salt lakes, salt pans and low saline environments like ocean water, sand and soil in the vicinity of salt pans. They produce exopolysaccharides (EPS) to protect the cells from high concentration of salt. EPS are carbohydrate polymers produced extracellularly by microorganisms. In the present studies, halophilic microorganisms have been isolated from saline environments from West Coast of Maharashtra (MS), India and explored for production of exopolysaccharide (EPS). Out of 43 isolates obtained, 6 isolates showing potential in production of EPS were selected for the studies. Among the 6 isolates, 4 isolates were identified as Halomonas smyrnensis, and other two were as Halomonas denitrificans and as Haloferax chudinovii. The isolates produced EPS in a range of 2-10.65 g/l the maximum being produced by Halomonas smyrnensis. This is presumably the first report of production of EPS by Halomonas denitrificans and Haloferax chudinovii, and also the exploration of the coastal regions of Sindhudurga district, Maharashtra, India for EPS producing halophilic microorganisms.