Abstract
The current study aimed to analyze bacterial communities' diversity and abundance in three different deserted areas (Merzouga, Mhamid Elghizlane, and Erg lihoud) located in Moroccan Sahara, as well as to investigate osmotolerant microorganisms producing hydrolytic enzymes. The isolates were taxonomically affiliated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Four different hydrolase activities (amylase, lipase, cellulase, and protease) and osmotic stress tolerance were evaluated. The phylogenetic analysis of 364 screened isolates belonged to three phyla (Firmicutes 73%, Proteobacteria 26% and Actinobacteria 1%) and 18 different genera, from Bacillus, Ornithinibacillus, Paenibacillus, Geobacillus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Paenarthrobacter, Enterobacter, Staphylococcus, Erwinia, Herbasprillum, Ocuria, Massilia, Planomicrobium, Hodococcus, and Stenotrophomonas. The results detected a high proportion of osmotolerant and enzymes producing bacteria, many isolates can tolerate up to 55 °C (40%, 28%, and 30% in Merzouga, Mhamid Elghizlane, and Erg lihoudi, respectively). Meanwhile, the salinity tolerance reached 12% in some isolates with different proportions in each site, 29% in Merzouga, 24% in Mhamid Elghizlane, and 9% in Erg lihoudi. Furthermore, the enzymatic tests showed the presence of an amylolytic, lipolytic, cellulolytic, proteolytic activities in 20%, 31%, 63% and 72% of total strains, respectively. As a result, the present study is thus a preliminary yet critical step towards identifying the best bacterial candidates for further biotechnological applications.