Functional Potential of Streptomycetes from Eutrophic Peat Soils

The interest in studying the distribution of actinomycetes in natural ecosystems is the result of a large-scale use of these organisms in biotechnological industry (actinomycetes produce 45% of all biologically active substances of microbial origin). In this study, the objects for isolating actinomycetes are the eutrophic peat soils of bog ecosystems of different geneses under deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests (Zapadanaya Dvina district of Tver oblast, European territory of Russia and Tomsk district of Tomsk oblast, Western Siberia). In total, 120 cultures of actinomycetes were isolated from the zone of active organic detritus decomposition represented in the studied soils by litter and eutrophic peat horizon; most of them are identified as Streptomyces (38 species). According to the analysis of antimicrobial activity, 40% of the isolated cultures concurrently display an antagonistic effect against bacteria, fungi, and opportunistic microorganisms, including the strains with a wide range of antagonistic action—Streptomyces globisporus, S. sindenensis, and S. xanthochromogenes. The observed antifungal activity of streptomycetes is higher as compared with the antibacterial effect. S. aburaviensis and S. albaduncus display the highest multiple antibiotic resistance. In total, 82% of the isolates display a cellulolytic activity and 26%, a chitinolytic activity. The cultures of S. bikiniensis, S. varsoviensis, and S. alboflavus have a high hydrolytic activity.