Abstract:
Starch-degrading amylase was produced by A. niger under submerged condition utilizing
pineapple peels as the substrate. Growth parameters were optimized by changing incubation
period, pH of the culture media, level of carbon source (dried pineapple peel powder) and
additional nitrogen source, in order to get maximum amylase production. Study revealed that
the production of extracellular amylase increased with the culture growth and reached to
maximum at day 7 in the cultures grown at pH 5.0. Studies with different levels of carbon source
indicated that optimum level for carbon source for maximum amylase production was 18 gL-1.
Effect of additional nitrogen source on amylase production was also monitored supplementing
the growth media with different nitrogen sources such as peptone, gelatin and urea. The result
indicates that using gelatin as additional nitrogen source increase the amylase production.
Experiments were also carried out to monitor extracellular and intracellular amylase production
and the results revealed that extracellular amylase production was found to be higher than that
of intracellular. Yield of the enzyme was 8530 units/g of pine apple peel powder.
To test suitability of the enzyme for improvement of the quality of bakery products bakery
products were prepared by treating the wheat flour dough with different volumes of partially
purified enzyme Results showed that Treating 7.7 mL (11.5 UmL-1) partially purified amylase
with one kg of wheat flour dough provide better quality product with improved shiny
appearance, color, crumb structure, taste and better anti-staling effect than the control.
