Twelve strains of bacteria with cellulase and xylanase activities were isolated from spent mushroom substrates collected from button mushroom cultivation farm, Buye, Chungcheongnam-do in Korea. Among them, one strain, designated NO12, with higher cellulase and xylanase activities was selected by agar diffusion method. The strain NO12 was identified to be a Bacillus sp. by biochemical characteristics using Bacillus ID kit and MicroLog system. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain NO12 formed a distinct phylogenetic tree within the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus subtilis with 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity of 99.2%. Based on its physiological properties, biochemical characteristics, and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain NO12 was classified within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus subtilis NO12 was proposed. The cellulase and xylanase activities of B. subtilis NO12 were slightly increased according to bacterial population from exponential phase to stationary phase in the growth curve for B. subtilis NO12. The xylanase activity continuously increased from the beginning of the exponential phase and exhibited maximum activity in the middle of the exponential phase.

• 김혜수(경남과학기술대학교 제약공학과) | Hye Soo Kim
• 박현영(경남과학기술대학교 제약공학과) | Hyun Young Park
• 이찬중(국립원예특작과학원 버섯과) | Chan-Jung Lee
• 공원식(국립원예특작과학원 버섯과) | Won-Sik Kong
• 조수정(경남과학기술대학교 제약공학과) | Soo Jeong Cho Corresponding author