ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF CELLULOSE UTILIZING BACTERIA FROM MANGO LEAVES

ABSTRACT Isolation and screening of cellulose utilizing bacteria from mango leaves was conducted. The mango leaves sample was collected from Sokoto State University and was then transported to the Microbiology Laboratory for microbiological analysis. Nutrient agar medium was used for isolation. Incubation was done at 37oC for 24 hours. Biochemical tests were conducted to identify the different bacterial species that were isolated. The identified bacteria include Enterobacter cloacae, Morganella morganii, Bacillus laterosporus, and Serratia marcescens.. Screening of the isolates for cellulolytic activity was done using CMC agar(Carboxymethyl Cellulose) and then flooded with 1% Congo red before staining with Sodium chloride(NaCl) of which we had the zone of hydrolysis and mango leaf 2 had the larger size of clear zone hydrolysis with 25cm and mango leaf 3 with the small zone with 21cm. Bacillus laterosporus, Enterobacter cloacae and Morganella morganii produced zone of CMC hydrolysis which indicates that they are cellulase-producing bacteria and they can degrade cellulose. It is recommended that more study should be carried out to understand the hidden mechanism behind the activity of the cellulase enzyme and also more researches should be emphasized in those bacteria showing cellulase producing potentials.