Aims: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have promising applications in the biotechnology industry. As their diversity in soil is largely unexplored, a study was undertaken to collect LAB from the soil, and to characterize the isolates. Methodology and results: Soil samples from around various fruit trees in MARDI were collected for LAB isolation by accumulation/incubation method. The isolates were examined for their morphological and biochemical characteristics, and their 16S rDNA sequences. Morphological and biochemical analysis showed that all isolates are gram positive with different characteristic for each isolates. Further identification were performed and soil samples was found to contain diverse genera and species of LAB, including Lactobacillus sp. and Bacillus sp. Selected isolates were tested for resistance against six antibiotics using agar dilution method. Widespread antibiotic resistance among the strains tested was found towards ampicillin, kanamycin, rifampicin and penicillin. Conclusion, significance and impact study: LAB have the ability in producing acid and antimicrobial compound which are useful in various industry. Fastidious characteristics of LAB are among the limitations and challenges in industrial applications. Diversity of lactic acid-producing bacteria was encountered in the soil which may be useful and have different characteristics from LAB isolates elsewhere.
Lactic Acid