JITHASHA B., LAXMI. M., ANASWARA F., SHERIN P. J. AND SUMI M.G.
Abstract
Waste dumping yards harbour a great diversity of microorganisms that are called Effective Microorganisms,which secretes organic acids and enzymes that act on waste and degrades complex organic matter into simpler ones and reduces the volume.The present study mainly focuses on isolating EM from waste dumping yards, screening microorganism for the secretion of enzymes and identifying the potential isolates using conventional and molecular methods. Microorganisms were isolated from different waste dumping areas. Isolates were screened for the production of various enzymes like cellulase, amylase, pectinase, ligninase, protease, gelatinase, catalase and lipase which have an important role in degradation. Among the 34 bacterial isolates obtained, majority belong to Bacillus genera which included rare species like Bacillus aryabhattai, Solibacillus silvestris, Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus methylotrophicus. Only 4 Gram negative bacteria and 5 fungal strains included Lichtheimia ramose, Corynespora cassiicola and Penicillium adametzioides were isolated. The relationship between microorganism and their enzymatic activities contribute for the better understanding to develop microbial consortium for effective composting.