Development of a bacterial consortium for coir retting

Abstract

The development of a consortium comprising indigenous nora of the coconut husks is reported. This consortium which could be grown on husk leachates has been used as inoculum for the retting process under laboratory conditions. The consortium has been developed on husk leachates with salinity adjusted to 6.5 ppt after an acclimation period of ninety days with three subcultures.When plated on nutrient agar, 10 different bacterial: cultures could be isolated among which gram negative coccobacillary forms have been the most predominant. The consortium is grown on HLM (Husk leachate medium) and inoculated on coconut husks steeped for retting in 5 and 10 per cent concentrations in tanks. It is found that the consortium could reduce the retting period to three months. The environmental parameters such as pH.salinity and temperature have been monitored for a period of three months. It is observed that the fibre could he separated from the husks as early as 3 months, as compared to the control husk. The fibre from these husks is observed to possess a light-fastness rating equivalent to the traditionally 9-11 month retted fibre.