Isolation and characterization of amylase-producing amylolytic bacteria from rice soil samples

Abstract

Amylase is an enzyme that plays a role in hydrolyzing starch to simple sugars. This protein is very important for various industrial processes. Microorganisms are considered as the best source of amylase production. This study was aimed at isolating and dentifying amylolytic bacteria from rice soil samples that have the potential to produce amylase enzymes. Rice soil samples were collected from two locations, namely the Percut Sei Tuan area and Labu Beach. Samples was isolated, then macroscopically identified with microscopy, and microscopically characterized with catalase test, endospore staining and gram staining. The identification results showed that 14 bacterial isolates from the two samples potential to produce amylase enzymes. The isolates which were characterized with catalase test showed positive results for all isolates. The characterization results with endospora staining showed 7 positive isolates and 7 negative isolates. Likewise with the results of gram staining characterization. Thus, from the two sample locations obtained amylolytic bacteria that potentially produce amylase enzymes.