Screening for cellulase activities in actinomycetes isolated from different locations of Peninsular Malaysia

A total of 282 isolates of actinomyce tes were isolated from soil samples collected from few selected areas in Peninsular Malaysia (Selangor, Johor and Kuala Lumpur). These actinomycetes were observed to have differe nt colony colours ranging from dark grey (42.6%), yellowish white (7.4%), greyish white (40.8%), white (7.8%), reddish (0.3%) and brownish ( 1.1%). All the isolates were screened for their cellulase activity which 37.6% (106 isolates) gave positive results. Isolate number 153, 159, 177, 184, 185, 191, 196, 200 and 262, which produced halo zone of 15.0-23 .0 mm, were identified by targeting their 16S-rRNA sequence. The results obtained showed that all the isolates belong to the genus Streptomyces spp.