Extraction and Preliminary Characterization of Genomic DNA from Mangrove-Associated Bacteria in the Niger Delta Region

The mangrove ecosystems of the Niger Delta harbor diverse microbial communities whose genetic potential remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the extraction and preliminary characterization of genomic DNA from bacteria isolated from mangrove sediment samples collected in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria. Sediment samples were obtained from five distinct mangrove sites along the Nun River estuary during both wet and dry seasons. Bacterial isolation was performed using nutrient agar, while DNA extraction employed a modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol adapted for high-polyphenol environmental samples. DNA quality was assessed by spectrophotometry and agarose gel electrophoresis. PCR amplification of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used for preliminary phylogenetic analysis. A total of 85 bacterial isolates yielded high-molecular-weight genomic DNA suitable for downstream analysis. Sequence analysis indicated affiliations with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria phyla. Several isolates demonstrated hemolytic and protease activities relevant to ecological roles in nutrient cycling. This study provides baseline molecular data on Niger Delta mangrove bacteria and demonstrates the effectiveness of the modified CTAB protocol for extracting quality DNA from sediment-associated organisms. Keywords: mangrove bacteria, genomic DNA extraction, Niger Delta, 16S rRNA, Bayelsa State.