[Distribution of actinomycetes of the genus Actinomadura in the light chestnut soils of Volgograd Province and their antagonistic properties].

Prevalence of the actinomycetes of the Actinomadura genus in the virgin and cultivated light chestnut soils of the Volgograd Region was studied. It was shown that Actinomadura were one of the constituents of the actinomycetous flora of these soils. No significant changes in the number of the Actinomadura and the total number of the actinomycetes were observed in the cultivated and virgin soils. The cultures of Actinomadura isolated from the virgin and cultivated soils belonged to 17 and 18 known species, respectively. Some ecological indices were determined for estimation of the similarities and differences in the species structure of Actinomadura in the virgin and cultivated soils. It was shown that cultivation of the soils increased the species variety, equalization and general variety of Actinomadura. In the process of the species identification of Actinomadura the chemical nature of the pigments of the substrate mycelium of the same group of the isolates and the type culture of A. salmonea ATCC 33580 was studied. The pigment responsible for the colour of the substrate mycelium of A. salmonea belonged to the maduromycin group. The antagonistic properties of the Actinomadura isolated from the soils were studied. The isolates had a moderate antagonistic activity mainly against grampositive organisms.