Research Article
Studies on the Biodiversity of Halophilic Microorganisms Isolated from El-Djerid Salt Lake (Tunisia) under Aerobic Conditions
Table 3
Phenotypic features of the 36 strains studied.
| | Strains (7SPE) |
| | Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 2021 S2/0 | 2117 S2/10 | 2022 S2/0 | S3/0 | S3/10 | 223 S2/20 | S1/20 | 116 S1/10 |
| | Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | | Colonial morphology | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | irregular and spreading | | Colony size | 1 mm | 1-2 mm | 1 mm | 1-2 mm | 1 mm | 1-2 mm | 2 mm | 1-2 mm | | Colony | convex | convex | convex | slightly raised | flat | convex | convex | convex | | Colony density | opaque matt | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening | translucent glistening | | Pigmentation | cream | white | cream | transparent-white | cream | cream | white | white | | Cell shape | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | | Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | single, paired cells and long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | paired cells and long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | paired chains | | Chains | − | + | − | − | + | − | − | + | | Motile | − | − | − | − | + | − | − | + | | Cell size; length and width (m) | 2–5 1 | 3–7.5 1 | 1–4 1 | 1–4 1 | 2–5 1 | 3–7.5 1 | 2–7.5 1.75 | 2–7.5 1 | | Oxidase | + | − | + | − | + | − | − | − | | Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − |
| | Growth at , pH 7.2 | | | | | | | | | | 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | 2% NaCl | + | − | − | − | + | − | + | + | | 5% NaCl | + | − | − | − | + | − | + | + | | 8% NaCl | + | + | − | − | + | + | + | + | | 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Growth at | | | | | | | | | | pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20E: | | | | | | | | | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Citrate utilization | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | | H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Urease | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Voges-Proskauer | + | + | + | − | − | − | − | − | | Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Fermentation/oxidation: | | | | | | | | | | D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Amygdalin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20NE: | | | | | | | | | | NO3 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | + | | NO2 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Assimilation of: | | | | | | | | | | D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | N-acetyl-glucosamine | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | | D-maltose | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Malic acid | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | | Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 604 S6/0 | S6/0 | 419 S4/10 | 402 S4/0 | 605 S6/0 | 2019 S2/0 | 214 S2/10 | 403 S4/0 |
| | Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | | Colonial morphology | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | | Colony size | 1 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1 mm flat | 3 mm convex | | Colony density | transparent glistening | opaque matt | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening | opaque matt | opaque matt | translucent glistening | | Pigmentation | cream | white | cream | white | white | white | cream | white | | Cell shape | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | | Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | | Chains | − | − | + | + | + | + | − | + | | Motile | − | − | − | + | − | + | + | + | | Cell size; length and width (m) | 2–5 1 | 3–7.5 1.5 | 3–7.5 1 | 2–7.5 1 | 2–7.5 1 | 2–5 1 | 2–5 1 | 2–7.5 1 | | Oxidase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Growth at , pH 7.2 | | | | | | | | | | 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | 2% NaCl | − | − | − | + | + | + | + | + | | 5% NaCl | − | − | − | + | + | + | + | + | | 8% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Growth at | | | | | | | | | | pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20E: | | | | | | | | | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Citrate utilization | − | − | − | + | + | − | − | + | | H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Urease | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Voges-Proskauer | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Fermentation/oxidation: | | | | | | | | | | D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | | D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Amygdalin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20NE: | | | | | | | | | | NO3 reduction | − | − | − | + | + | + | − | + | | NO2 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Assimilation of: | | | | | | | | | | D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | N-acetyl-glucosamine | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | − | | D-maltose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Malic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 139 S1/30 | 2015 S2/0 | S1/0 | 2230 S2/20 | 101 S1/0 | S1/10 | S1/20 | 108 S1/0 |
| | Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | | Colonial morphology | Irregular and spreading | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | Circular | irregular and spreading | | Colony size | 1-2 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1 mm convex | 1-2 mm convex | 0.3 mm slightly raised | 1-2 mm convex | | Colony density | translucent glistening | opaque matt | translucent glistening | opaque matt | translucent glistening | translucent glistening | translucent matt | translucent glistening | | Pigmentation | white | white | white | cream | white | white | white | white | | Cell shape | pleomorphic cells | Pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | | Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | long chains | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | | Chains | − | + | − | + | + | + | − | + | | Motile | − | + | − | + | + | + | − | − | | Cell size; length and width (m) | 2–7.5 1 | 2–5 1 | 2–7.5 1.75 | 2–5 1 | 2–7.5 1 | 2–7.5 1.5 | 2–7.5 1 | 2–7.5 1 | | Oxidase | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − |
| | Growth at , pH 7.2 | | | | | | | | | | 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | 2% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | − | + | | 5% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 8% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | − | + | + | | 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Growth at | | | | | | | | | | pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20E: | | | | | | | | | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Citrate utilization | − | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | | H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Urease | + | + | + | + | + | − | + | + | | Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Voges-Proskauer | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Fermentation/oxidation: | | | | | | | | | | D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Amygdalin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20NE: | | | | | | | | | | NO3 reduction | + | − | + | − | + | + | + | + | | NO2 reduction | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Assimilation of: | | | | | | | | | | D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | N-acetyl-glucosamine | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-maltose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Malic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | 137 S1/30 | 103 S1/0 | S3/0 | 326 S3/20 | 304 S3/0 | S3/0 | 426 S4/20 | 3216 S3/20 |
| | Taxonomical status | Halomonas sp. | Halomonas sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | Salicola sp. | | Colonial morphology | irregular and spreading | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | Circular | irregular and spreading | Circular | | Colony size | 1-2 mm convex | 0.5–1 mm convex | 0.3 mm flat | 0.3 mm convex | 0.3 mm flat | 0.2-0.3 mm flat | 1 mm flat | 0.2-0.3 mm slightly raised | | Colony density | translucent glistening | translucent matt | opaque matt | translucent matt | opaque matt | transparent matt | opaque matt | translucent matt | | Pigmentation | white | white | yellowish- cream | white | transparent white | transparent- white | transparent- white | transparent- white | | Cell shape | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic rods | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | pleomorphic cells | | Cell arrangement | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | single and paired cells | | Chains | − | + | − | + | + | − | − | − | | Motile | − | + | − | − | − | − | + | − | | Cell size; length and width (m) | 2–7.5 1 | 2–7.5 1.5 | 1–3 0.5 | 1–4 0.5 | 1–3 0.5 | 1–3 0.5 | 1–4 0.5 | 1–4 0.5 | | Oxidase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Catalase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Growth at , pH 7.2 | | | | | | | | | | 0% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | 2% NaCl | + | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | | 5% NaCl | + | + | − | − | − | − | + | − | | 8% NaCl | + | + | − | + | − | − | + | − | | 10% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 15% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 25% NaCl | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | 30% NaCl | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Growth at | | | | | | | | | | pH 4.5 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | pH 6 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 7.5 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | pH 8 | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20E: | | | | | | | | | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | ONPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Arginine dihydrolase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Lysine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Ornithine decarboxylase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Citrate utilization | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | + | | H2S production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Urease | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | | Tryptophan deaminase | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Indol production | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Voges-Proskauer | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − | | Gelatinase activity | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Fermentation/oxidation: | | | | | | | | | | D-glucose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-mannitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Inositol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sorbitol | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | L-rhamnose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-sucrose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-melibiose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Amygdalin | − | − | + | + | − | − | − | − | | L-arabinose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | API 20NE: | | | | | | | | | | NO3 reduction | + | + | + | + | − | − | − | − | | NO2 reduction | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | Aesculin | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | PNPG | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Assimilation of: | | | | | | | | | | D-mannose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | N-acetyl-glucosamine | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | D-maltose | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Potassium gluconate | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Capric acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Adipic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | | Malic acid | − | − | + | + | − | − | − | − | | Phenylacetic acid | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| | Sampling sites (S)/depth (cm)/ characteristics | | 105 S1/0 | | 2018 S2/0 | | 411 S4/10 | | 4115 S4/10 |
| | Taxonomical status | | Marinococcus sp. | | Pontibacillus sp. | | Halobacillus sp. | | Halorubrum sp. | | Colonial morphology | | Circular | | Circular | | Circular | | Circular | | Colony size | | 1 mm convex | | 1 mm flat | | 1 mm flat | | 0.3 mm slightly raised | | Colony density | | opaque matt | | opaque matt | | opaque matt | | opaque matt | | Pigmentation | | reddish- orange | | cream | | cream | | brick-red | | Cell shape | | pleomorphic rods | | pleomorphic rods | | pleomorphic rods | | pleomorphic cells | | Cell arrangement | | single, paired and irregularly clustered cells | | long chains | | long chains | | single and paired cells | | Chains | | − | | + | | + | | − | | Motile | | − | | + | | + | | + | | Cell size; length and width (m) | | 1–5 2 | | 1–4 1 | | 1–4 1 | | 1–4 1 | | Oxidase | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Catalase | | + | | − | | − | | − |
| | Growth at , pH 7.2 | | | | | | | | | | 0% NaCl | | − | | − | | − | | − | | 2% NaCl | | − | | − | | − | | − | | 5% NaCl | | + | | + | | + | | − | | 8% NaCl | | + | | + | | + | | + | | 10% NaCl | | + | | + | | + | | + | | 15% NaCl | | + | | + | | + | | + | | 25% NaCl | | + | | + | | + | | + | | 30% NaCl | | − | | − | | − | | − |
| | Growth at | | | | | | | | | | pH 4.5 | | − | | − | | − | | − | | pH 6 | | + | | + | | + | | + | | pH 7 | | + | | + | | + | | + | | pH 7.5 | | + | | + | | + | | + | | pH 8 | | − | | − | | − | | − |
| | API 20E: | | | | | | | | | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | ONPG | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Arginine dihydrolase | | + | | + | | + | | + | | Lysine decarboxylase | | + | | + | | + | | + | | Ornithine decarboxylase | | + | | + | | + | | + | | Citrate utilization | | + | | + | | + | | + | | H2S production | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Urease | | + | | + | | + | | + | | Tryptophan deaminase | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Indol production | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Voges-Proskauer | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Gelatinase activity | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Fermentation/oxidation: | | | | | | | | | | D-glucose | | − | | − | | − | | − | | D-mannitol | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Inositol | | − | | − | | − | | − | | D-sorbitol | | − | | − | | − | | − | | L-rhamnose | | − | | − | | − | | − | | D-sucrose | | − | | − | | − | | − | | D-melibiose | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Amygdalin | | − | | − | | − | | − | | L-arabinose | | − | | − | | − | | − |
| | API 20NE: | | | | | | | | | | NO3 reduction | | − | | − | | − | | − | | NO2 reduction | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Hydrolysis of: | | | | | | | | | | Aesculin | | − | | − | | − | | − | | PNPG | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Assimilation of: | | | | | | | | | | D-mannose | | − | | − | | − | | − | | N-acetyl-glucosamine | | − | | − | | − | | − | | D-maltose | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Potassium gluconate | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Capric acid | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Adipic acid | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Malic acid | | − | | − | | − | | − | | Phenylacetic acid | | − | | − | | − | | − |
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