Study of the lytic activities of actinomycetes isolated from different soils in Georgia

The lytic activities of 310 cultures from the Collection of Actinomycetes of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, were studied; 18% of these strains appeared capable of lysing yeast cell wall. The active producer of the enzyme was selected. This culture was isolated from chestnut soil in Gardabani raion (Central Georgia). Its cultural-morphological, biochemical, and antagonistic properties allowed the culture to be ascribed to the species Geodermatophilus obseurus Luedemann, 1968. The maximal lytic activity under submerged cultivation conditions, exceeding the activity of Actinomyces griseinus by twofold, was observed during the logarithmic growth phase.