Role of Earthworms and Actinomycetes in Ecofriendly Degradation of Floral Waste via Vermicomposting and Antimicrobial Potential of Actinomycetes

Author: Shobha Shouche and Deepika Tiwari

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Abstract

The increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with the modern economy is posing a severe threat to the ecosystem and public health. On the other hand, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important worldwide public health issues of this century. The utilization of naturally existing microorganisms in bioremediation procedures, which use contaminated areas and dangerous organic chemical residues to be removed, is constantly developing. Actinomycetes have grown in significance since they are crucial to the recycling of organic debris and the creation of new drugs and enzymes. It is possible to use many Actinomycetes genera to bioconvert underused organic waste into highly valuable chemical compounds. This study was conducted to isolate actinomycetes capable of producing waste-degrading enzymes from floral waste vermicompost. In this study, floral waste was decomposed using the technique of vermicomposting. The floral wastes and cow dung in a ratio of 1:1 (50% each) were fed to Eisenia fetida earthworms for 45-60 days, keeping 100% floral waste and 100% cowdung as control. The actinomycetes were isolated and characterized morphologically using the dilution technique on starch casein-agar media. A total of six isolates were selected for enzymatic and antimicrobial screening based on their abundance. The amylase, protease, and peptonization-coagulation activities were determined through a screening procedure. All selected strains demonstrated enzyme production. Actinomycetes growth patterns and mycelial coloration were documented. The cultural and morphological analysis identified actinomycetes genera as Streptomyces. The actinomycetes isolated from floral waste were found to be promising microorganisms for the production of antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics. Also, the use of a microbial consortium was found to be the best option for faster degradation of waste.

Keywords

Floral Waste, vermicomposting, actinomycetes, enzyme production, antibiotic production, microbial consortium

Conclusion

Vermicomposting technology could be broadly used for the management and recycling of nirmalaya or floral wastes, lowering the bulk and level of pollution at the generation site. It could be the best organic fertilizer for producing organic vegetables, organic fruits, and ornamental plants. Since vermicompost produces a high population of beneficial microflora, its application to cultivated land will also increase their population, increasing soil fertility and reducing pathogenic microorganisms, and the analysis will let us know the microbial diversity mainly involved in the decomposition process, which will be beneficial to prepare a microbial consortium culture that can be used to achieve even faster decomposition in a short period of time. Apart from bioremediation, actinomycetes also play an important role as biocontrol agents. At present, there is a need to find novel antimicrobial-producing strains as the pre-existing drugs have failed due to the development of resistance among the microorganisms. The present study is also a small contribution towards meeting this need. The study showed that actinomycetes are important agents in turning waste into a resource that can be used to produce antibiotics of medicinal value and enzymes of commercial importance.

References

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How to cite this article

Shobha Shouche and Deepika Tiwari (2023). Role of Earthworms and Actinomycetes in Ecofriendly Degradation of Floral Waste via Vermicomposting and Antimicrobial Potential of Actinomycetes. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(3): 632-636.