Characterisation of Cellulolytic Bacteria Isolated from Agricultural Soil in Central Lithuania

Characterisation and evaluation of soil bacteria were conducted in order to select the most potent strains that participate degradation cellulose unique agroecosystem climatic conditions. Cellulolytic activity was estimated using qualitative assays such as growth on selective media followed by screening with Congo red, Gram’s iodine solution, confirmation test red agar, determination enzyme production, sugar utilisation pattern. A total 159 cellulolytic bacterial selected based shape, size, colony characteristics. According results all three assays, sixty-four, thirty-eight fifty-one isolates able degrade at some level cellulose, respectively. Partial sequencing 16S rRNA gene 64 obtained sequences retrieved from databases indicated presence represented members phyla Actinobacteria (48.44%), Firmicutes (32.81%), Proteobacteria (15.62%) Bacteroidetes (3.13%). Determination production showed fifteen possess endoglucanases which ranged 9.09 942.41 nanomoles MUF (4-methylumbelliferone) mL. Likewise, β-glucosidase determined 23.4 % isolates. The pattern displayed different capabilities various carbon sources, occur lignocellulosic materials (cellulose, starch) or their hydrolysates (glucose, galactose, fructose, cellobiose, maltose, lactose, sucrose, trehalose).