Molecular characterization of a proteolytic bacterium in Panchagavya: An organic fertilizer mixture

Fermented product of combination of five major substances obtained from cow, viz., urine, milk, ghee, curd, and dung, is known as Panchagavya. Its pro-agricultural and medicinal value has been traditionally known to Indian farmers from Vedic period. In this study, the proteolytic properties of Panchagavya were investigated using Skim Milk Agar (SMA) form, a commercially available Panchagavya product. Proteolytic bacteria, SNCK-3, was successfully isolated. Further identification using 16s rDNA sequencing revealed that SNCK-3 belonged to Acinetobacter spp., which is a species of biofertilizer group. This observation justified the pro-agricultural role of Panchagavya. The present study represents primary data and it is essential to develop a new area of research for exposing the invisible or dormant Vedic biotechnological concepts, like Panchagavya.