Investigation of biological activities of actinomycetes isolated from Ulva lactuca compost

The seas have wide microbial variety because of physical and chemistrycal properties. Therefore, seas are a potential source for actinomycetes to produce new antimicrobial compound and enzymes. In the present study, actinomycet bacteria from Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce) compost samples were isolated. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of these actinomycetes were investigated. In addition, the enzyme contents of actinomycetes have been determined using qualitative methods. Isolates showing high activity were identified according to morphological, physiological and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Forty actinomycetes bacteria were isolated based on morphological properties. BSU-19 and BSU-25 among these isolates showed high antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria such as Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Klepsiella pneumonia, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Seventeen isolates showed antifungal activity against fungi F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F.subglutinans and Trichoderma sp. The isolated actinomycetes showed 34 (85%) amylase, 21 (53%) lipase/esterase, 21 (53%) chitinase, 29 (73%) pectinase, 40 (100%) protease and 30 (75%) cellulase activity. BSU-1, BSU-12, BSU-19, BSU-25 ve BSU-38 isolates showing high antimicrobial and enzyme activity were found to belong to the genus Streptomyces. Keywords: Ulva lactuca, compost, actinomycetes, antibacterial, antifungal, extracellular enzymes