Amylase-Producing Fungi and Bacteria Associated with Some Food Processing Wastes

T Okunwaye,B.O Okogbenin,J.U Obibuzor,D.C Onyia,E.A Okogbenin,P.O Uadia

doi:10.4314/njb.v38i1.9

Abstract

Amylases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds present in starch to release simple sugars. They are one of the most important enzymes in numerous commercial processes. In this investigation, fungal and bacterial strains from the following agro-industrial wastes were isolated and screened for amylolytic ability: soil from oil palm plantation, shea seed, date fruit, coconut meat, cassava effluent, cassava peel, cassava tubers, yam and potato tubers, starch medium, parboiled water from noodles and rice. The results revealed the presence of Geotrichum, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Rhizopus and Fusarium spp. Five major genera of bacterial species namely Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Micrococcus and Bacillus were isolated and screened for amylase activity. Cassava soil had the highest heterotrophic bacterial count of 5.7 x105cfu/g and coconut meat waste had the lowest heterotrophic bacterial count of 1.3 x105cfu/g. All isolated microorganisms had the amylolytic ability. The fungal isolates had higher amylase activity when compared with the bacterial isolates. This investigation reveals organisms with high amylase activity.

Highlights

Enzymes are efficient biological catalysts that accelerate living cells’ biochemical processes by increasing the rate of reactions
The results revealed the presence of Geotrichum, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Rhizopus and Fusarium spp
Amylases are a group of enzymes that break down glycosidic bonds found in starchy substrates to give endproducts typical to the particular amylolytic enzymes used (Dhanya et al, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

Enzymes are efficient biological catalysts that accelerate living cells’ biochemical processes by increasing the rate of reactions. Amylases are a group of enzymes that break down glycosidic bonds found in starchy substrates to give endproducts typical to the particular amylolytic enzymes used (Dhanya et al, 2009). They are commonly found in microbes, animals and plants (Pandey et al, 2000). The use of cheap and available wastes, such as agro-industrial waste, as an alternate substrate for amylase isolation and production for industrial purpose is a continuous process that helps in solving pollution challenges (Priya et al, 2011). The isolation and screening of microbial amylases from some oilseeds and food processing waste are reported

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusion