Determine about the term Actinomycetes - Soil Flora

It have characteristics which are transitional between bacteria and fungi and are sometimes called fungi - like bacteria. They are heterotrophic aerobic organisms and need plenty of organic material, optimum moisture and aeration for growth. The activity of these organisms is low when pH is below 5.0. Actinomycetes can degrade all sorts of organic substances, but at a rate slower than that for bacteria and fungi due to their slow growth rate. For this reason, organic residues added to soil are first attacked by bacteria and fungi and later on by actinomycetes. Actually, they start functioning when the readily decomposable organic compounds have been decomposed by fungi and bacteria.