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Abstract

This study was carried out to isolate actinomycetes from the soils of Menengai crater. The study area was divided into regions A, B, C and D. Soil samples were collected from 8 sampling points from each region. The samples were separately mixed to form composite samples. Starch casein, Luria Bertani and starch nitrate agar were used in isolating actinomycetes using spread plate technique. Prior to isolation, the soil samples were heat for 1h at 121 o C followed by serial dilution upto 10-6. The isolates were characterized using cultural, morphological and biochemical means. Region B and C produced many actinomycetes than A and D. Luria Bertani agar was better in recovering actinomycetes than starch casein and starch nitrate agar. There was significant difference in the number of actinomycetes isolated using the three media (F=3.315 P=0.04218). The number of actinomycetes isolated from region A, B C, and D also varied significantly (F= 27.50 P=0.000). A total of 152 actinomycetes were isolated. There is need to test the actinomycetes isolates for production of antimicrobials.