ABSTRACT
Five hundred chitin-degrading bacteria were isolated from 20 different locations. High percentage of potent chitin-degraders was obtained from polluted regions. Potent chitin-degrading bacteria were selected by primary and secondary screening. Among the selected isolates, 78% were represented by the genus Streptomyces. Majority of the isolates had good chitinolysis relative to the growth although isolates with better growth were also seen. Such isolates are important for the production of SCP from chitinous wastes. The potent isolates belonged to the genera Streptomyces, Kitasatosporia, Saccharopolyspora, Nocardioides, Nocardiopsis, Herbidospora, Micromonospora, Microbispora, Actinoplanes, Serratia, Bacillus and Pseudomonas. This study forms a comprehensive base for the study of diversity of chitinolytic systems of bacteria.