Screening of actinomycetes isolated from soil samples of Ajmer, Rajasthan for antimicrobial activity.

Several strains of actinomycetes were isolated from soil samples collected from various localities ofAjmer district. These isolates were tested for their antagonistic proerties against few test organisms viz. Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger. Some of these actinomycete strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against bacteria, no antifungal activity was observed. Six such isolates were selected for detailed morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical studies for identification. Five of these were identified as members beloging to the genus Streptomyces and the remaining one belonging to the genus Actinoplanes.