Morphological and biochemical studies for the identification of Lactobacillus plantarum sp. nov., and Lactobacillus fermentum sp. nov., from municipal waste

Two predominant strains of Lactobacillus were isolated from the municipal waste in Kashmir valley. The cells were non-motile rod cells, Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, catalase, Oxidase and urease negative. Colonies were smooth and round and nitrate reduction test showed positive results in case of LAB33 while as colonies were creamy-white, circular, smooth, low convex and nitrate reduction- negative in case of LAB45. Ammonia from Arginine, Acid from mannitol and gas is produced from glucose fermentation by LAB33 while as no ammonia from Arginine, no acid from mannitol and no gas is produced from glucose by LAB45. Both the strains fermented L- arabinose, D-fructose, galactose, glycerol, lactose, maltose, mannitol, salicin, sorbitol, sucrose, trehalose, D-xylose as carbon source. Rhamnose is not fermented by LAB33 but showed positive results by LAB45. Lactic acid was the exclusive product from glucose fermentation. LAB33 and LAB45 were biochemically characterized and identified by the methods in Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Vol. 2 as Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum respectively.