On selection of methods and media for isolation of freshwater actinomycetes

Abstract

Abstract Fresh water actinomycetes were isolated from lake sediments by using a variety of pretreatment methods and different selective media. To enhance the isolation of fresh water actinomycetes, five different pretreatment methods viz. dry heat at 100 C, dry heat at 120 C, wet heat at 55∘C, 1% phenol, and 1% phenol+wet heat and six selective media viz. Kuster's agar, Bennet's agar, Starch casein agar, Actinomycetes Isolation agar, Glucose Asparagine agar and Chitin agar were used. Amongst the various pretreatment methods employed application of dry heat at 100 C was found to be best since this eliminated a large number of contaminating bacteria and fungi, thus enhancing good growth of actinomycetes. Kuster's medium exhibited good growth of actinomycetes. as compared to the growth on other media employed in the experiment.