African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (10), pp. 829-832, 16 May 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

α-Amylase production by Penicillium fellutanum isolated from mangrove rhizosphere soil

K. Kathiresan* and S. Manivannan

Centre of advanced study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, 608502, Tamilnadu, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: cdl_aucasmb@sancharnet.in, kathirsum@rediffmail.com Tel: + 91 4144 238419 (Res.), + 91 4144 243223 / 243555.

Accepted 14 December, 2005

Abstract

The effects of pH, temperature, incubation time, salinity, sources of carbon and nitrogen were tested in submerged fermentation process in production of α-amylase by Penicillium fellutanum isolated from coastal mangrove soil. The production medium without addition of seawater and with provision of maltose as carbon source, peptone as nitrogen source, incubated for 96 h, maintained with pH of 6.5 at 30^oC, was found optimal for production of α-amylase by P. fellutanum.

Key words: α-amylase, Penicillium fellutanum, mangroves, rhizosphere soil, Rhizophora.