ISOLATION OF SOIL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT The study was aimed to isolate and charaterize antibiotic producing fungi from the soil environment within kano state polytechnic Staff Quarters Sheikh jaafar road. Soil samples were collected from three different locations within kano state polytechnic Staff Quarters for the isolation of fungi. The physiochemical parameters of the soil samples showed a temperature range of 28°c to 35°c pH was found to be neutral and slightly above neutral (7.00___8.00), Electrical conductivity was found to be within the range of 70____75. Spread plate method involving serial dilution technique was used for the isolation using Potatoe Dextrose Agar (PDA).Six species of fungi were isolated from the soil samples and then characterized microscopically and morphologically. The fungi were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium sp, Fusarium sp, and Mucor sp.Sensitivity test was employed to determine the ability of the fungal isolates to produce antimicrobials. All the fungal isolates were found to inhibit the growth of at at least one of the test pathogens except fusarium, The zones of inhibition ranged between 14.3mm/d in Penicillium against Escherichia Coli to 8mm in Mucor sp against Escherichia Coli, Fusarium Sp exhibit no activity (NA) against all the tested organisms, The findings of this study shows that antibiotic- producing fungus are prevalent in the soil of kano state polytechnic Staff Quarters Sheikh jaafar, road and that these strains could be used by pharmaceutical companies to produce antibiotics from local sources. Keywords: Antibiotic producing; soil fungi;