Molecular characterization of local strains of Bacillus thuringiensis in the North of Algeria

The analysis of soil samples taken from orange groves located in four cities of Northern Algeria allowed the isolation and identification of 24 strains belonging to the group Bacillus cereus, based on their physiological, biochemical and molecular characters investigated. They were divided as follow: 12 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis, 1 strain of Bacillus pumilis, 4 strains of Bacillus cereus, 5 strains of Bacillus subtilis and 2 Bacillus mycoides strains. After the molecular characterization performed with the aid of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, it was confirmed from the parasporal bodies using a scanning electron microscope that the strains of the identified collection belong to the species, B. thuringiensis.