Abstract
Actinobacteria were isolated from a marine sediment using starch casein agar medium. Out of the 10 strains tested, two, the A-3 and A-3 mutant strains were evaluated for maximum antibiotic production; these were was tentatively identified as Streptomyces griseus. Several fermentation parameters, such as incubation period, temperature, pH, DO2 and carbon and nitrogen sources were also optimized for highest production of antibiotic from both the A-3 and A-3 mutant strain. The most marked antibiotic production occurred after 72 h. of incubation at 29 degrees C, pH 7, DO2 60%, and in the presence of lactose and peptone as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Data from the present study points to the possibility of using this mutant strain of Streptamyces griseus in the large scale production of the antibiotic.