Production of á-amylase from agricultural byproducts by Humicola lanuginosa in solid state fermentation

In this study α-amylase activity expression in Humicola lanuginosa was evaluated under different environmental conditions using solid state fermentation (SSF) on different agricultural byproducts. The solid supports for α-amylase production in SSF process were wheat bran, wheat straw, rye straw, and corncob leaf. Wheat bran has been found to yield maximum production of á-amylase among these solid substrates. Effects of process variables, namely incubation time & temperature, initial moisture content, pH, supplementary carbon source, and inoculum level, on production of α amylase have been studied, and accordingly optimum conditions have been determined. It has been found that the á-amylase production is the highest at 144 hr incubation period, 50ºC incubation temperature, 90% initial moisture contents, pH of 6 and 20% inoculum level. Soluble starch has been found the best supplementary carbon source.