Isolation of actinomycetes from soil collected from flooded area in Kelantan

Flood may cause shift of microbial community in soil from a region to another region. Among microorganism in soil, actinomycete has the highest commercial value for its secondary metabolite producing characteristic. The objectives of this study are to isolate actinomycetes from both soil collected from flooded area and non-flooded area, to determine its morphology characteristics and screening for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Soils of flooded area were collected at Dabong, Kelantan, while soils of non-flooded area were collected around UMK Jeli campus. Three isolation methods were used to isolate actinomycete; 1) high temperature; 2) centrifugation; 3) chloramine T. A total of 281 actinomycete strains were isolated using three isolation
methods; 72% isolated from flooded area and 28% from non-flooded area. Twenty-six actinomycete colonies from both type of soil were determined have same morphological
characteristics. This suggested that soil of flooded area can be potential source to isolate novel actinomycete. 30 selected actinomycete strains were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. 17 out of 30 (57%) actinomycete strains inhibit at least one test microorganism either bacterial or fungal. Actinomycete strain no. U120 and U211 were active against both E.coli and C.albicans. Strain no. U120 and U211 were active against both Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Strain no. U211 showed highest microbial activity against both E. coli and C.aIbicans which formed inhibition zone
with the diameter of 22.5 mm and 23.3 mm respectively.