Metal tolerance in halotolerant bacteria isolated from saline soil of Khambhat

Five halotolerant bacteria were isolated from saline soil of Gujarat. Their identification and characterization with respect to optimum pH and salt concentration, and metal tolerance was carried out. Among all isolates Virgibacillus salarius exhibited better metal tolerance/resistance. In certain cases stimulatory effect of metal ions on growth was also observed. Such organisms can serve as a good model for study of stress response among prokaryotes, and can also be explored for their potential of bioremediation of metal polluted saline sites with alkaline pH