Identification and study of extracellular enzymatic activity of Bacillus velezensis isolated from saline soils of the Fergana Valley

This study focuses on the extracellular enzymatic activity of the dominant bacterial species Bacillus sp. isolated from saline soils of the Fergana region. Among more than 25 isolates studied, isolate No. 2, obtained from the topsoil layer (0–15 cm), and exhibited the highest hydrolytic activity. Notably high activity was observed for pectinase and amylase, with hydrolysis zones ranging from 38 to 45 mm. Moderate activity was shown by xylanase, cellulase, protease, and lipase, with hydrolysis zones between 24 and 34 mm. Based on molecular genetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the highly active dominant strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis TM. Keywords: Soil, isolates, bacteria, identification, Bacillus velezensis, hydrolases, pectinase, amylase, xylanase, protease, cellulase, lipase