Isolation and biochemical characterization of novel thermostable amylase producing soil bacteria.

Abstract

The current study had associated with isolation of amylase producing soil bacteria and estabished the relationship between physico-chemical factors of soil along with amylase producing bacteria.  The soils contained organic carbon (0.13 to 0.42 gm %), nitrogen (0.01 to 0.06 gm %), phosphate (4.29 to 8.26 ppm) and potassium (4.75 to 22.14 ppm). The amylase producing bacterial populations were varied from soil to soil. There was a positive correlation between organic matter, soil pH and occurrence of amylolytic bacteria. Initially, 20 colonies were screened, among them 11 colonies were selected primarily on the basis of clear zone formation on starch agar media. Maximum clear zone was obtained from SKB4 followed by SKB8>SKB88>SKB34. SKB4 also produced maximum amount of extracellular enzyme in starch containing broth; showed maximum saccharolytic activity at 90°C, pH 6.5 and finally selected.  The morphological and biochemical study had indicated SKB4 was a rod shaped, Gram positive, edospore forming bacteria along with catalase and oxidase positive; produced acid from various sugar; showed positive reaction in V.P. and nitrate reduction test. Finally, this strain had identified as Bacillus licheniformis. This organism could be exploring in industrial sectors especially in starch processing, detergent, food processing, pharmaceutical, and paper manufacturing.

Keywords:  Isolation, Biochemical characterization, Thermostable amylase from