ABSTRACTPectinases
are the enzymes which breakdown pectin polysaccharide present in plant tissues into simpler molecules like sugar and other
useful compounds. Investigation of pectinases is a central issue in enzymology research due to their wide applications in Pharmaceutical,
food, Agricultural products and Bioremediation processes. Pectinases account for 10% of the total worldwide production of enzymes. The
major sources of the pectinase are plant and microorganism. But for both technical and economic aspect microbial source of pectinase
has become increasingly important. This study was undertaken to screen out and isolate efficient pectinase producing bacterial strains and
to identify bacterial strains; which could be utilized in different pectinase dependent operations. Isolates were screened for pectinase
production by using pectinase screening agar medium (PSAM). Six pectinase producing bacterial strains were isolated from Osmanabad
soil samples of fruit market.One strain showing maximum zone was selected and this strain was identified .This strain was tested for
morphological and biochemical characters and was designated as Staphylococci sp.