Abstract

The diversity and phylogenetic analyses of culturable haloarchaea from crystallizer saltern pond was studied on the basis of 16s rDNA sequences determined with Haloarcula spp. Four brine samples were taken from different sites of marine solar saltern crystallizer pond in hot summer and six distinct extremely halophilic archaea were isolated on specific haloarchaea agar medium. The rDNA were amplified with specific 16S rRNA primer by PCR, identified through BLASTn and EzTaxon programme as members of family Halobacteriaceae. On the basis of 16S rDNA sequences results, we confirmed strains M1(1), M3(1) and M2(2) of Haloarcula marismortui by 98.77%, 98.98% and 98.69% respectively. Similarly, others were resembled as Haloarcula salaria M2(1), Haloarcula argentinensis M4(1) and Haloarcula quadrata M4(2) with 98.69%, 95.98% (BLASTn 99% similarity with Haloarcula marismortui ATCC 43049 chromosome II) and 98.84% respectively, under extremely haloarchaeon genera Haloarcula. However, present study indicated that similarity coefficient of these strains and species sequences suggesting novel strain(s) and even taxa especially for strain Haloarcula argentinensis M4(1). The identity of new strains of Haloarcula from these sites provides new horizon from marine solar saltern crystallizer ponds from coastal areas Mumbai, India.

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