Abstrait

Assessment of Microbial Diversity In Relation To Biochemical Constituents along Palk Strait

S. Ravikumar J. Thirumalairaj, R. Gokulakrishnan

The present study was made an attempt to enumerate the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), E. coli, actinomycetes and fungi population and to evaluate the biochemical parameters from water and sediment samples. The samples were collected from eight different stations viz., Kodiyakkarai, Mallipattinam, Manora, Manamelkudi, Kottaipattinam, Mimisal, S. P. Pattinam and Thondi along Palk Strait coast of South India. The results suggested that, the maximum THB (12x105 CFU.mL-1) and E. coli (14x105 CFU.mL-1) counts were recorded in water sample at Mallipattinam coast during the month of January and February. The maximum (5x105 CFU.g-1) counts of actinomycetes were recorded in sediment at Thondi during the month of March. Moreover, the counts of fungi were found maximum (12 x105 CFU.g-1) in sediment at Mimisal during the month of March. The correlation analysis revealed that, the counts of THB showed positive correlation (p<0.05) with amino acids in both water and sediment samples and showed negative correlation (p<- 0.05) with carbohydrates and proteins. The counts of E. coli showed positive correlation (p<0.05) with amino acids in sediment and also showed positive correlation (p<0.05) with carbohydrates and non-reducing sugar in water. The counts of actinomycetes showed negative correlation (p< - 0.05) with amino acids in sediment. The fungal counts showed positive correlation (p<0.05) with protein and reducing sugar in sediment.