Total amylase activity (TAA) was determined according
to Murado et al. (1993) mixing 80 lL of paperfiltered
medium (suitably diluted) with 400 lL of
0.15 M citrate-phosphate buffer; pH 5.0 (1 volume)
and 4% soluble starch (1.5 volumes) previously maintained
at 40 C/15 min. The reaction mixture was incubated
at 40 C for 10 min. The reaction was stoppedby addition of 480 lL of dinitrosalicylic acid, and the released
glucose was determined by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic
acid reaction (Bernfeld, 1951). One unit of amylase
activity (enzymatic units (EU)/mL) was defined as the
amount of enzyme that releases 1 mg/mL of reducing
sugars (glucose equivalents) under the assay conditions