SCREENING OF ENZYME-PRODUCING MARINE ACTINOMYCETES DERIVED FROM MANGROVE LITTERS OF OESAPA BEACH, KUPANG

Abstract

Marine Actinomycetes derived from mangrove litters have been successfully isolated from the Mangrove Forest area of Oesapa beach in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Isolation was conducted by placing mangrove leave litters on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and then purified by using streak plate technique. Isolation brought out 5 purified marine actinomyetes isolates namely: Sr-1, Sr-2a1, Sr-2a2, Sr-2b and Sr-3. Screening for enzyme production was carried out for four hydrolytic enzymes: Protease, Amylase, Lipase and Cellulase. Four isolates tested positive for protease catalytic activity, three isolates showed both amylase and cellulase activities while lipase activity shown in all isolates. Actinomycetes colonies was characterized by having filamentous growth, gram-positive staining, earth-like smell, powdery texture colonies and occasional pigment production. These isolate colonies showed a good perspective for alternative sources of enzyme production derived from local natural resources. Moreover, these hydrolytic enzymes when yielded as crude extract, could be implemented as feed additive formulated in animal feeds. By doing so, it could help increase livestock productivity through enhancing nutrient availability and absorption while reducing animal excretion or waste at the same time.