Strain improvement of Gluconacetobacter xylinus NCIM 2526 for bacterial cellulose production

Abstract

The present investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) in strain improvement for enhanced cellulose production by Gluconacetobacter xylinus NCIM 2526. The mutants were compared with wild type for cellulose production. UV mutants GHUV₃, GHUV₄, and GHUV₅ of G. xylinus showed higher cellulose yield than the wild strain. The mutant GHUV₄ gave cellulose yield of 3.92 g/l which was 30% more than the wild strain in standard medium. Chemical mutants GHEM₄, GHEM₆ and GHEM₇ of G. xylinus showed higher cellulose yield than the parent strain (GHUV₄). GHEM₄ gave cellulose yield of 5.96 g/l which was 50% more than the parent strain (GHUV₄) and 98% more than the wild strain (NCIM 2526). The results indicated that UV and EMS were effective mutagenic agents for strain improvement.

Key words: Bacterial cellulose, Gluconacetobacter xylinus, ultraviolet mutagenesis, ethyl methanesulfonate treatment.