Alpha-amylase production by Streptomyces erumpens MTCC 7317 in solid state fermentation using response surface methodology (RSM).

Production of alpha-amylase under solid state fermentation by Streptomyces erumpens MTCC 7317 has been investigated using different agro-industrial residues, i.e. cassava bagasse, sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran; wheat bran was found to be the best substrate. Among different nitrogen source supplemented to wheat bran, beef extract or peptone (1%) showed maximum enzyme production. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effect of main process parameters as incubation period (48 h), moisture holding capacity (70%), pH (7.0) and temperature (50 degrees C) on enzyme production by applying a full factorial central composite design. The maximum hydrolysis of soluble starch (90%) and cassava starch (75%) was obtained with the application of 4 ml (approximately 12096 U) of S. erumpens crude enzyme after 5 h of incubation.