Biotechnology1682-296x1682-2978Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/biotech.2007.120.128SaadounIsmail RawashdehRifaat DayehTasnim AbabnehQotaiba MahasnehAmjad 1200761There is considerable interest in different fiber hydrolytic enzymes such as cellulases, xylanases and pectinases for their potential applications in the paper, food and feed industries. Therefore, this study aimed to screen for soil streptomycetes producing such enzymes and characterize them. A total of 110 isolates of streptomycetes were recovered from 15 soil samples collected from three regions of Ajlun forests in northern Jordan then screened for their ability to produce cellulase, pectinase and xylanase enzymes by observing the clear zones around the colonies on cellulose, pectin and xylan agar media, respectively. Data showed that 79% of the isolates were able to produce at least one of the enzymes with cellulase being the highest (71.8%). Thirty five isolates (32%) were able to produce the three enzymes with 24 of them were characterized morphologically and physiologically as Streptomyces. RAPD DNA analysis has been used to determine the relatedness of 11 active isolates based on their RAPD-PCR fingerprints. Genetic polymorphisms between these active isolates showed two common bands of 500 and 800 pb shared by approximately (90%) of them.]]>Al-Eisawi, D., A. El-Oqlah, S. Oran and J. Lahham,2000pp: 70pp: 70Arbeit, T.L.,19946th Edn.,Beg, Q.K., B. Bhushan, M. Kapoor and G.S. Hoondal,2000Streptomyces sp. QG-11-3.]]>16211213Blanchette, R.A., J.B. Sutherland and D.L. Crawford,19815917Blanco, A., T. Vidal, J.F. Colom and F.I.J. Pastor,1995Bacillus sp. strain Bp-23.]]>6144684470Caetano-Annolles, G.,199338594Caetano-Annolles, G. and P.M. Gresshoff,199412619623Carder, J.H.,19861537579Coughlan, M.P. and G.P. Hazlewood,199317259289Crawford, D.L. and J.B. Sutherland,197920143151Daffonchio, D., G. Baggi, G.P. Molinari, G. Ranalli and C. Sorlini,1996Streptomyces griseus strain.]]>31257268Demeke, T. and R.P. Adams,19941994pp: 179-191pp: 179-191Elegir, G., G. Szakacs and T.W. Jeffries,1994Streptomyces sp. strain B-12-2.]]>6026092615El-Nakeeb, M.A. and H.A. Lechevalier,1963117577Gilbert, M., R. Morosoli, F. Shareck and D. Kluepfel,1995151339Gharaibeh, R., I. Saadoun and A. Mahasneh,2003Streptomyces investigated by RAPD-PCR.]]>431827Hopwood, D.A., M.J. Bibb, K.F. Chater, T. Kieser, C.J. Bruton, H.M. Kieser, D.J. Lydiate, C.P. Smith and H. Schrempf,1985Streptomyces: A Laboratory Manual.]]>pp: 79-80pp: 79-80Katsifas, E.A., E.P. Giannoutsou and A.D. Karagouni,1999294851King, B. and H.O.W. Eggins,197772429Kuster, E. and S.T. Williams,1964Streptomycetes.]]>202928929Malkawi, H.I., I. Saadoun, F. Moumani and M.M.M. Meqdam,1999Streptomyces isolates.]]>225358Mangin, I., D. Corroler, A. Reinhardt and M. Gueguen,199986514520Mehling, A., U.F. Wehmeier and W. Piepersberg,1995Streptomyces 16S ribosomal DNA: Towards a specific identification system for streptomycetes using PCR.]]>14121392147Nanmori, T., T. Watanabe, R. Shinke, A. Kohno and Y. Kawamura,1990Bacillus stearothermophilus strain.]]>17266696672Niehaus, F., C. Bertoldo, M. Kahler and G. Antranikiar,19995711729Nonomura, H.,1974Streptomyces included in ISP.]]>527892Power, E.G.M.,199634247265Prauser, H.,1964Streptomyces.]]>49598Saadoun, I. and F.A. Momani,1997Agrobacterium tumefaciens.]]>82936Saadoun, I., F. Al-Momani, H. Malkawi and M.J. Mohammad,19991004146Saadoun, I. and R. Gharaibeh,2002Streptomyces flora of Jordan and its potential as a source of antibiotics active against antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria.]]>18465470Saadoun, I. and R. Gharaibeh,2003Streptomyces flora of Badia region of Jordan and its potential as a source of antibiotics active against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.]]>53365371Sambrook, J., E.F. Fritsch and T.A. Maniatis,19892nd Edn.,Pages: 397Pages: 397Semedo, L.T., R.C. Gomes, E.P. Bon and R.R. Coelho,200084267276Shirling, E.B. and D. Gottlieb,1966Streptomyces species.]]>16313340Sneath, P.H.A. and R.R. Sokal,1973Squires, M.W., E.C. Naber and V.D. Toelle,199171522529Sutherland, J.B., R.A. Blanchette, D.L. Crawford and A.L. Prometto,1979Streptomyces.]]>2123126Tsao, P.H., C. Leben and G.W. Keitt,1960508889Tsujibo, H., T. Sakamoto, N. Nishino, T. Hasegawa and Y. Inamori,199069398405Wachinger, G., K. Bronnenmeier, W.L. Staudenbauer and H. Schrempf,1989Streptomyces reticuli.]]>5526532657Williams, J.G.K., A.R. Kubelik, K.J. Livak, J.A. Rafalski and S.V. Tingey,19901865316535Williams, S.T., M. Shameemullah, E.T. Watson and C.I. Mayfield,19724215225