Occurrence of Bacillus Thuringiensis from South Kalimantan Indonesia

B. thuringiensis is a gram-positive soil bacterium and produce a crystalline inclusion body during sporulation. This parasporal body is composed of proteins termed “delta-endotoxin” and specifically toxic to insects. In addition B. thuringiensis produce another toxins namely: alpha-toxin beta-exotoxin and gamma-exotoxin. All of the toxic substance may not present in the bacterium. Most strains of B. thuringiensis produce delta-endotoxin crystals toxic to lepidopteran insects such as moth. Recently however several researches have shown that B. thuringiensis is also widely distributed in natural soils of various area. that B. thuringiensis made up less than 0.5% of more than 46000 bacterial isolates recovered from various soils in the United States. Out of the 50 Bacillus sp. isolates from the soil of South Kalimantan. Indonesia only one (2%) was identified as B. thuringiensis based on phase contrast microscope examination for the presence of parasporal inclusion bodies.