TAXONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF ALKALI TOLERANT METALLOPHILES FROM SOIL OF M.I.D.C. PARBHANI

Abstract

Five metallophilic, alkali tolerant, motile, non spore forming, catalase positive and Gram
negative bacteria were isolated from sediment soil samples collected from effluent canal of
M.I.D.C. Parbhani district in Maharashtra and further identified based on their morphological,
microscopic and physiological characters, enzyme profile and sugar-use pattern as Cupriavidus
sp. MRC1, Ralstonia eutropha MRC2, Pseudomonas stutzeri MRC3, Aeromonas media MRC4
and Ralstonia metallidurans MRC5. Taxonomic assessment of the isolates revealed that most of
the isolates were belonged to the class betaproteobacteria and gammaproteobacteria. MIC of
these isolates was determined against Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg and Zn. Ralstonia metallidurans MRC5
showed highest resistance against Zn and 0.40 mg/mL MIC was recorded. The metallophiles
reported by us can be used as a bioremediation tool for the treatment of effluents from industries
handling heavy metals.