Isolation of two thermophilic actinobacterial strains mud volcano of the Baratang Island, India

Studies on actinobacteria of marine habitats are gaining international importance due to proven abilities of novel compound production. Information on actinobacteria of the marine environments is less and hence the present studies were optimum at higher temperature, which indicates that they are thermophilic in nature. It can be conducted that the two strains (TA-1 and TA-2) belong to two different genera viz. Rhodococcus (TA-1) and Streptosporangium (TA-2). Actinobacterial strains were isolated from the sediment samples collected from the mud volcano, of the Baratang Island andaman and Nicobar group of islands. Out of a total of six isolates, two different actinobacterial strains (TA-1 and TA-2) were selected based on the morphological distinct colour of spore mass, riverside colour, arial and mycelia format production of diffusible pigment sporophore and colony morphology. Morphological studies indicated that the strains belonged to two different genera viz. Rhodococcus (TA-1) and Streptosporangium (TA-2). The strain had no aerial mycelium and analysis of the strain TA-1 showed fragmented rods, filaments and hyphae, and the strain TA-2 showed that the formed globosa sporangia on the surface of the colony liberated non-motile spores.   Key words: Thermophilic actinobacteria, isolation and identification, Baratang Island.