title: Application of actinomycetes to soil to ameliorate water repellency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop a novel isolation technique using a mixture of Bacillus and Streptomyces phages to selectively isolate wax-utilizing non-streptomycete actinomycetes effective in ameliorating water repellency in a problem soil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phages added to a soil suspension reduced the dominance of Bacillus and Streptomyces isolates and significantly increased the number of non-streptomycete actinomycetes on isolation plates. Promising isolates, grown on a medium containing beeswax as sole carbon source, were selected for application to water repellent soil. Their addition significantly reduced water repellency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phage application significantly increased the isolation of non-streptomycete actinomycetes. Wax-utilizing isolates were found to significantly reduce water repellency in a problem soil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phage technique can be used for the routine isolation of non-streptomycete actinomycetes. Beeswax medium can be used to selectively isolate wax-utilizing micro-organisms with the potential to ameliorate water repellency in soil.
authors.affiliation: Microgene, Mahogany Creek, W.A., Australia. frank@microgene.com.au
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: El-Tarabily
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dell
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry; D001407:Bacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D002244:Carbon / Q000172:deficiency; D004463:Ecology; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D014867:Water; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014885:Waxes; D014867:Water; C038228:beeswax; D002244:Carbon; D000362:Agar