Quantitative assessment of oil-degrading microorganisms from coastal Mediterranean soil of Egypt. J

Quantitative assessment of oil-degrading microorganisms from coastal Mediterranean soil of Egypt

EL-Sayed M. EL-Morsy*, Mohamed I. Abou-Dobara**, Marwa T. Mohesien

Botany Department, Damietta, Faculty of Science, New Damietta, Egypt

*e-mail: el_morsy@du.edu.eg 

       Twenty-six soil samples collected from different sites contaminated with petroleum oil in Egypt were investigated. Eleven bacterial species, nine bacterial isolates and thirteen fungal species were isolated. Soil properties have a great effect on the distribution of the bacterial and fungal flora. In soil samples 0.025 to 0.422 mg of total hydrocarbon and 2 to 80 mmhose/cm of salinity were found. Microbiological analysis included estimation of total cell count of bacteria and fungi and identification of the isolated microorganisms. The samples were dominated by Bacillus where 9 of its species were identified. Micrococcus and Pseudomonas were also recorded. In addition, six species of Aspergillus and one species of each of Alternaria, Cunninghamella, Curvularia, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma have been recorded. The identified microorganisms were tested for their abilities to degrade the diesel oil.