Dhiraj Panhale, Sapna Grewal and Sonia Goel
Department of Bio and NanoTechnology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar125 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : sapnagrewal29@gmail.com; Mobile : 94165-97896)
(Received : May 4, 2020; Accepted : July 11, 2020)
ABSTRACT
Bioluminescence is generally found in sea water as a free living or symbiotically associated with marine animals. The luminescence in bacteria is the result of reaction catalyzed by enzyme luciferase. In this study, four free living luminescent bacterial strains were isolated from different beaches of India. Pure culture was obtained by using streak plate method. Gram staining followed by microscopic observation showed that the isolated bacteria were gram negative and rod shaped in nature. The bacteria were grown on TCBS agar media. Different biochemical and carbohydrates utilization tests were performed to correctly identify the bacteria. The results were compared with Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology and the bacteria were identified as Photobacterium phosphoreum. The bacterial strains were grown on different media and the growth and luminescence pattern was observed. Effect of different temperature, pH,
salinity and glycerol concentration on the growth pattern and the intensity of luminescence on four strains were studied. The intensity of luminescence was categorized by visual scoring.
Key words : Bioluminescence, bioluminescent bacteria, biochemical tests, sea water, Photobacterium phosphoreum