Diversity of Silver Nanoparticle Synthesizing Actinobacteria Isolated from Marine Soil, Tamil Nadu, India

Marine actinobacteria have been considered as a potential source of bioactive compounds holding a prominent position as targets in screening programs due to their diversity and their proven ability to produce novel metabolites and other molecules of pharmaceutical importance. In this regard, an attempt was made to study the diversity of actinobacteria and its ability to synthesize silver nanoparticles in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu. A total of 1143 actinobacteria were isolated, out of which 49 were morphologically distinct based on the spore color, mycelia formation and pigment production. Themorphologically distinct isolates were characterized and identified using light microscope as Streptomyces sp. (16), Nocardiopsis sp. (8), Kitasatosporia sp. (7), Actinopolyspora sp. (2), Thermoactinomyces sp. (5), Actinomadura sp. (4) Kibdelosporangium sp. (3), Saccharopolyspora sp. (3) and Thermomonospora sp. (1). The correlation coefficient analysis between the isolates and the physicochemical parameters of the soil revealed positive correlation with nitrogen. Silver nanoparticles production by the green chemistry approach was investigated using the isolated marine actinobacteria which showed that 25 isolates out of 49, synthesized silver nanoparticles.