Isolation and identification of indigenous saline soil exopolysaccharide-producing bacteria

Exopolysaccharides secreted by bacteria has an important role in bacterial resistance against stresses such as salinity. This study aimed to isolate and identify halotolerant bacteria with the most exopolysaccharide production potential of the soil and evaluate the production of exopolysaccharides in different salt concentrations. Soil samples were spread on nutrient agar ± %5 NaCl then among the salt tolerant colonies, the most tolerable salt concentration (MTC) of mucoid ones was isolated and the EPS production in the presence of (5%) salt concentrations was assayed. The nature of exopolysaccharide produced by superior strain was identified with FTIR Spectrometer and the exopolysaccharides production in higher concentrations of salt were determined by anthrone-sulfuric acid method. In the infrared spectrum of exopolysaccharide, the absorption peaks were attributed to the presence of carbohydrate compounds such as β-glucans and also to alcohol groups, phenols, carboxylic acids, carbonyl and alkyne. The exopolysaccharide production was significantly (Pvalue