Science Letters

Screening, isolation and identification of pectinase producing bacterial strains from rotting fruits and determination of their pectinolytic activity

Arifa Jabeen 1, Qurat-ul-ain Hanif 2*, Misbah Hussain 3, Anam Munawar 2, Nisma Farooq 2, Shehar Bano 3

1 Department of microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

2 National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan

3 Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Naturally occurring polysaccharide pectin, the methylated ester of polygalacturonic acid, is very importance in both scientific and commercial world due to its biodegradability. A large group of pectinase enzymes causing breakdown of pectin polysaccharides of plants and fruit are used in industrial sector to increase the yield and clarity of fruit juices. In this study, two bacterial strains were isolated using dilutions of 10-4 and 10-6 of rotten oranges. Isolated organisms were identified based on staining and biochemical tests. The pectinolytic activity was determined using pectin containing minimal essential medium. The methodology applied was Kirby Bauer agar well diffusion method at the temperature is 35�20°C. Based on Gram staining, spore staining and biochemical tests, two bacterial strains L (Staphylococcus aureus) and M (Bacillus cereus) were isolated and identified. Both strains showed different pectinolytic zones depending on the concentration of inoculum and the largest pectinolytic zones of 25 mm was observed by both strains. These two strains are efficient and have potential to be implicated commercially to increase the clarity and quality of fruit juices.

Keywords: Pectin, polygalactutonic acid, Kirby Bauer method, iodine reagent, pectinase.

Received December 01, 2014 Revised February 07, 2015 Published online first February 09, 2015

*Corresponding author Qurat-ul-Ain Hanif Email micro32uvas@gmail.com Phone +92-331-4270195 Fax +92-42-35884045