Antibiotics Susceptibility Pattern of Actinomycetes Isolated from Soil under Cultivation of Curcuma longa L

Actinomycetes are promising tool to control plant disease and to promote plant growth. In ayurved system of medicine rhizome portion of Curcuma longa L. was used as an antiseptic. Antimicrobial substances released from these plants diffuse into the surrounding soil area of the plant. Actinomycetes which grow in these areas are resistant to these substances. Different types of pesticide and chemicals are also used to control plant pest. The residual component of these substances diffuses into the soil and causes soil pollution. The present study was carried out to search actinomycetes which can be used to degrade the residual components of pesticide, chemicals and antibiotics. Total four soil samples were collected from the villages around Barshi, Dist. Solapur. Total six isolates were tested for their ability to grow in presence of antibiotics such as penicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol gentamycin and tetracycline on Glycerol aspargine agar containing these antibiotics separately by spot inoculation technique after incubation at an ambient temperature for 5 to 7 days. Out of six actinomycetes isolates 83.33% were resistant to chloramphenicol, 66.66% were resistant to penicillin and 50% were resistant to tetracycline, while all the actinomycetes isolates were sensitive to gentamycin and streptomycin. The actinomycetes resistant to penicillin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline may have potential to produce antibiotics of this category and they will be studied further for the production of this type of antibiotics which will be used to prevent human and plant bacterial and fungal diseases. They may have ability to degrade chemical or antibiotics and may be used to control soil pollution to some extent.