DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW UREOLYTIC ARTHROBACTER SPECIES ISOLATED FROM SOIL AND SEWAGE.

Abstract

The morphological, cultural, physiological and nutritional propertie  of two new ureolytic species of Arthrobacter isolated from soil, sewage and activated sludge were recorded. Both the species  showed strong ureolytic activity. A linear relationship was obtained with both when suspensions of cells grown in nutrient broth were  tested for release of ammonia against time intervals upto 100 minutes.Optimum pH for the reaction was 7.5 and only very little activity was observed at pH 5.0. Sewage species alone grew luxuriantly in synthetic media containing glycine as a nitrogen source and when grown on different substrates exhibited better capacity than its soil counterpart to oxidize glycine. Ability of the bacteria to oxidize various other substrates was also recorded.