Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF UREASE-PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM NATURAL SOURCES

Jadhav Yashashree, D. and G.R. Pathade

Abstract

Urease is an enzyme made by ureolytic microorganisms that hydrolyzes urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Microbial urease has wide applications in biotechnology, agriculture, construction, and geotechnical engineering. Urease-producing microbes can be isolated from different ecosystems such as soil, oceans, and various geological formations. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize urease-producing bacteria from different natural sources. Ten urease-producing bacterial isolates were screened and selected using a qualitative urease activity assay. Among these, four isolates showed rapid urease activity. The isolates were further characterized with respect to their morphological, characteristics.