Screening of Rhizosphere Actinomycetes from Shifting Cultivation Crops for Pigment Production

Among the microorganisms, actinomycetes can produce various natural pigments that have antimicrobial compounds and antioxidant properties. In this regard, pigment-producing actinomycete strains could be an essential source for producing antimicrobial agents to develop bioinoculants in agricultural programs. This study aimed to isolate actinomycetes from the rhizosphere of crop plants under shifting cultivation in Mizoram, North-east India, capable of producing pigments. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected and actinomycetes were isolated from the soil by serial dilution. Purified isolates were identified by their plate colony nature and microscopical morphology, and characterised by Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. A total of ten actinomycete taxa were recorded that produced various pigments. This study suggests that rhizospheric actinomycetes from major crop plants under shifting cultivation in Mizoram might produce bioactive compounds responsible for pigment production.