Isolation and Characterization of a Halophilic Cyanobacterium Euhalothece SLVH01 from Sambhar Salt Lake, India

Soda lakes or alkaline hypersaline lakes are distributed world-wide mainly in deserts. They are a microbiologist’s delight and treasure. Microorganisms inhabiting saline environments and requiring a minimum 3-5 (% w/v) NaCl for growth are referred to as halophiles. They are classified as slight, moderate, and extreme halophiles depending on their salt (NaCl) requirements. Sambhar Salt Lake in Rajasthan is India’s largest soda lake with salinity ranging from 2-4 (% w/v) to saturation, and pH (8-12) depending on the season as well as location. Microscopic studies of the brine samples revealed the presence of 4-5 algal species. We have enriched halophiles by Winogradsky technique and isolated a halophilic cyanobacterium from this extreme environment. Based on morphological, physiological and 16S rRNA sequencing studies one species has been identified as Euhalothece SLVH01.This is the first report on the isolation and characterization of this haloalkaliphilic microalga (cyanobacterium) from this lake.