African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (9), pp. 441-446, September 2004           
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antibacterial activity of  some actinomycetes isolated from farming soils of Turkey

Mustafa Oskay*, A. Üsame Tamer and Cem Azeri

Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Celal Bayar University, Campus of Muradiye, 45030, Manisa, Turkey.

*Correspondingauthor. E-Mail: Mustafa.oskay@bayar.edu.tr.

Accepted 12 July, 2004.

A total of 50 different actinomycete strains were recovered from farming soil samples collected from Manisa Province and its surrounding. These were then assessed for their antibacterial activity against four phytopathogenic and six pathogenic bacteria. Results indicated that 34% of all isolates are active against, at least, one of the test organisms; Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Erwinia amylovora, Pseudomonas viridiflova, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Bacillus subtilis ATTC 6633, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATTC 10031, Enterococcus feacalis ATCC 10541, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Esherichia coli ATCC 29998 and Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341. According to antibacterial activity and spectrum broadness, seven of the isolates were selected and characterized by conventional methods. The unusual antibiotic profile of these isolates underlined their potential as a source of novel antibiotics.

Key words: Streptomyces, soil, characterization, antibacterial activity, screening.