Microalgae, a major live feed in aquaculture always coexist with
associated bacteria. Hence a better understanding of algal-bacterial
interaction is essential for maintaining a stable environment in intensive
larval rearing tanks. Therefore, herein we attempted to determine
the phylogenetic diversity of culturable bacteria associated with
microalgal production system of a marine finfish hatchery with special
reference to Chaetoceros gracilis mass culture. The sequencing of
16S rDNA of representative from each phylotypes revealed that the
associated microflora belong to the classes Gammaproteo bacteria,
Alphaproteo bacteria, and Bacilli. In particular, members of Marinobacter
genus showed higher degree of association followed by Leisingera,
Alteromonas, Nautella, Halomonas and Ruegeria. The association of
bacterial groups belonging to the genera Idiomarina, Albidovulum and
Staphylococcus were also detected. The variation of bacterial diversity in
microalgal habitat with changes in environmental conditions was also
discussed in the present work. In overall, the present study gives
a greater insight to the algal microhabitat which would be vital for
improving stability, productivity, sustainability and reliability of
large scale microalgal cultivation and their feeding to the target
aquaculture species