MATERIAL AND METHODS For the production of amylase from microbial sources, samples from different habitats like soil sample, rotted potato and spoiled food waste were collected and used for isolation studies. Soil and rotted potato were collected from CPPRI Campus, Saharanpur and spoiled food waste from city canteen CPPI, Saharanpur. The culture media used Nutrient Agar Medium (NAM), Isolation Medium-I, Isolation Medium- II, Starch agar medium, Nutrient broth, Media- A. Growth measurement was analyzed by using two methods, spectrophotometric method and oven dry method. Isolation of amylase producing bacteria from different source was done by serial
dilution method 1gm sample was added in 9 ml of sterile distilled water and homogeneous suspension was obtained, aseptically transferred 1ml sample of above dilution into 9ml sterile distilled water blanks and shake well to obtain 10-5 and 10-6 dilution. 1 ml of each dilution was pipette out and spread into the isolating media (Nutrient agar for bacteria only). After this the inoculated plates were incubated at 340C for 5-6 days. Purification & Screening of isolated strains for amylase enzyme is done. During primary and secondary screening iodine solution, Nutrient Agar Medium, Starch Agar Medium were used. Amylase producing microorganisms were primarily screened by activity zone technique with iodine solution. The pure cultures were inoculated at the centre of the sterile media poured plates and were incubated at 370C for 24 hrs for bacterial strains. After incubation, 1% iodine solution was over layered on the agar plates and the observation was made to note the substrate utilized zone around the colony. The isolated pure strains were screened for the production of extra cellular amylase production using starch agar medium. Amylase activity was assayed by measuring the reducing sugar formed by the enzymatic hydrolysis of soluble starch. The reaction mixture containing 1 ml of1% (w/v) soluble starch in citrate phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) and 1 ml culture extract enzyme was incubated at 400 C for 30 min. The reaction was stopped by addition of 2 ml of dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) reagents. The reaction mixture was heated for 5 min in boiling water bath and absorbance was read at 540 nm to estimate reducing sugars released. The activity of amylase enzyme was determined as IU/ ml Enzyme activity was calculated from the amount of reduced sugar produced in 30 minutes, by following formula-