Isolation of α-amylase producing bacteria from the coastal waters of Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam

697-703Bacteria have been regarded as treasure of many useful enzymes viz., amylases, proteases, lipases, hydrolases and reductases.. Bacteria screened during the study (Aug., 2008 - Jun., 2010) were of Bacillus species. Out of 1618 isolates, 143 isolates exhibited 3-11mm clear zone of starch hydrolysis, 17 exhibited above 11mm and the rest of them yielded less than 3mm zone. By determining the α-amylase production of the isolates by 3, 5-Dinitro salicylic acid method, the high yielding 17 isolates were observed. The highly potent α-amylase producing bacteria would prove promising results in bakery, food, fodder for poultry, automation dishwashing and laundry industries. α-amylase was also useful in solving the problem of water pollution of industrial effluents and sewage water by hydrolyzing the substrates