Abstract
Twelve bacterial strains which decompose carrageenan were isolated and purified from sea water and algae on modified ZoBell 2216 E carrageenan and agar media. The isolates were examined for morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. They were gram negative, facultative anaerobic, non-flagellate, long rods, formed spreading colonies and contained carotenoid pigments. The isolates produced phosphatase and were resistant to polymyxin B. The GC content ranged between 39.3 and 41.8mol (%). These characteristics indicate that the strains belong to the genus Cytophaga. The carrageenan decomposing bacteria were classified into four groups according to their behaviour in decomposing other high molecular weight compounds such as agar, casein, gelatin and starch.
