THE PRODUCTION OF GLUCOAMYLASE BY ASPERGILLUS-NIGER NCIM-1245

The production of glucoamylase was carried out by surface culture of Aspergillus niger NCIM 1245 using different substrates in solid state fermentation. Wheat bran (WB) and rice bran (RB) were evaluated to test their efficiency as sole carbon sources for enzyme formation and WB produced a higher enzyme productivity. The partial replacement of WB with other substrates, including rice flour, rice husk, rice bran, wheat flour, corn flour, corn starch and bengal gram flour showed a varying trend of enzyme production. Maximum enzyme activities were obtained when WB mixed with corn flour (9:1, w/w) was allowed to ferment for 96 h at 30 +/- 1-degrees-C under humid conditions, maintaining an initial substrate moisture of about 55% and pH 4.7. Dry matter loss increased with the time course of cultivation. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) studies showed the penetration of fungal mycelia into substrate particles.