Abstract

Mangrove soils are anoxic, sulphidic and variable since their chemistry is regulated by a variety of factors such as texture, tidal range and elevation, redox state, bioturbation intensity, forest type, temperature and rainfall. Sulphur-oxidizing bacteria such as photoautotrophs, chemolithotrophs and heterotrophs play an important role in the mangrove environment for the oxidation of the toxic sulphide produced by sulphur reducing bacteria and act as a key driving force behind all sulphur transformations in the mangrove ecosystem which is most essential to maintain the sulphur cycle as well as eco health. These overviews summarizes the current state of knowledge of diversity and important biotechnological contributions of these microorganisms in agriculture, bio fertility, reduction of environmental pollution, maintenance of the productivity of ecosystems and also highlight areas in which further research is needed to increase our basic understanding of physiology, genomics and proteomics of these microorganisms which is most essential.

Key words: Mangrove habitat, sulphur oxidising bacteria, sulphur cycle, sulphide oxidase.