Screening of Biopolymer Producing Bacteria Isolated from Some Brassica Plants

Biopolymer producing bacteria were isolated from some Brassica plants such as cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce. Total counts of these samples were enumerated and predominant mucoid colonies were selected for further studies. These isolated strains were identified as Panteo agglomerans, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The biopolymer producing ability of these isolates was studied using yeast malt (YM) broth. The fermentation studies were carried out in Erlenmeyer flasks containing 100 ml YM broth. After 72 h cell dry weight, viscosity and remaining reducing sugar content of the media were estimated. Using ice cold ethanol the biopolymer produced was precipitated, dried and weighed. Among the isolates Pseudomonas sp. produced a maximum of 3.17 g/l of biopolymer.