3. Results and discussion
3.1. Bacteria isolation
B. subtilis, B. pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis and Staphylococcus spp. were isolated from Owoh condiment. The Bacilli were all Gram-positive rods when viewed under the microscope while the Staphylococcus spp. was found Gram-positive cocci. All were catalase positive, indicating their ability to produce a catalase enzyme that is able to break down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The bacterial isolates were also able to utilise citrate as their only carbon source in their metabolic activities. Only B. subtilis and B. licheniformis were able to hydrolyse starch. B subtilis was able to liquefy gelatin while B licheniformis was also able to hydrolyse at a slow rate. B. subtilis produced a black pigment on Triple Iron Agar, indicating its ability to produce Hydrogen sulphide gas. All the bacterial isolates were facultative, indicating their ability to grow under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. B. licheniformis was able to produce pulcherrimin (red pigment) on Triple Sugar Iron Agar and this shows the distinct characteristic of B. licheniformis to produce pulcherrimin on any agar containing sufficient iron ( Table 1).