Isolation and Identification of Microbial Communities From Citrus limetta Waste

Abstract

Sweet lime is one of the globally consumed fruits. However, besides the useful aspects of Citrus limetta, it generates substantial agro-industrial waste, often discarded without treatment, which can serve as a niche for microbial proliferation, including opportunistic pathogens. The present study isolated microflora from Citrus limetta waste, specifically juice, pulp, and peel samples collected from local markets in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 48 bacterial strains were isolated. Among them, 18 morphologically distinct strains were characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The isolated strains belonged to seven genera: Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Microbacterium, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Curtobacterium. The phenotypic and biochemical characterization indicated that most strains exhibited pathogenic potential. Antibiotic sensitivity testing indicated resistance to ampicillin in several strains and higher susceptibility to tetracycline and kanamycin. These findings provide critical insights into microbial contamination risks from citrus waste and highlight the importance of waste handling in the framework of the one-health concept, food safety, and environmental sustainability.

Keywords 16S rRNA gene sequencing, Citrus limetta, Phylogenetic analysis, Waste characterization