Summary
A large reduction (about 30%–78%) is observed in the production of alpha-amylase by Bacillus licheniformis M27 in standardized wheat bran medium under solid-state fermentation when the moisture content of the medium is higher than the standardized value (65%). However, a surge in enzyme production in the first 24 h of fermentation is observed in media with 75% and 85% moisture. The role of decreased oxygen transfer in reducing enzyme tires by about 78% in the medium containing 95% moisture is evident, since the enzyme tire can be effectively increased by agitating the medium during fermentation. No such limitation in oxygen transfer is evident in medium containing 65% moisture even where incubated under static conditions or when the flask is capped by aluminum foil. The data indicate the critical importance of the moisture content of the medium in α-amylase production by B. licheniformis M27 in solid-state fermentation systems. The results also have several implications of scientific and techno-economic importance and are useful in explaining some of the advantages of a solid-state fermentation system over the submerged fermentation process.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beckord LD, Kneen E, Lewis KH (1945) Bacterial amylase production on wheat bran. Ind Eng Chem 37:692–696
Feniksova RV, Tikhomirova AS, Rakhleeva BE (1960) Conditions for forming amylase and proteinase in surface culture of Bacillus subtilis. Mikrobiologya 29:745–748
Ghildyal NP, Ramakrishna SV, Devi PN, Lonsane BK, Asthana HN (1981) Large scale production of pectolytic enzyme by solid state fermentation. J Food Sci Technol 18:248–251
Hahn-Hägerdal B (1986) Water activity: a possible external regulator in biotechnical processes. Enzyme Microb Technol 8:322–327
Hesseltine CW (1972) Biotechnology report. Solid-state fermentations. Biotechnol Bioeng 14:517–532
Huang SY, Wang HH, Wei C-J, Malaney GW, Tanner RD (1985) Kinetic responses of the koji solid state fermentation processes. In: Wiseman A (ed) Topics in enzyme and fermentation biotechnology, vol 10. Ellis Horwood, Chichester, pp 88–108
Lonsane BK, Ramesh MV (1990) Production of bacterial thermostable alphaamylase by solid state fermentation: A potential tool for achieving economy in enzyme production and starch hydrolysis. In: Niedleman SA (ed) Advances in Applied Microbiology, vol 35. Academic Press, New York, pp 1–56
Lonsane BK, Ghildyal NP, Murthy VS (1982) Solid state fermentation processes and their challenges. In: Technical brochure. Symposium on fermented foods, food contaminants, biofertilizers and bioenery. Association of Microbiologists of India, Mysore, pp 12–18
Lonsane BK, Ghildyal NP, Budiatman S, Ramakrishna SV (1985) Engineering aspects of solid state fermentation. Enzyme Microb Technol 7:258–265
Medda S, Chandra AK (1980) New strains of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus coagulans producing thermostable α-amylase active at alkaline pH. J Appl Bacteriol 48:47–58
Nishio N, Tai K, Nagai S (1979) Hydrolase production by Aspergillus niger in solid state cultivation. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 8:263–270
Ralph BJ (1976) Solid substrate fermentations. Food Technol Aust 28:247–251
Ramesh MV (1989) Production of heat stable bacterial alpha-amylase. Ph. D Thesis, University of Mysore, Mysore, India
Ramesh MV, Lonsane BK (1986) Inability of some Bacillus strains to produce thermostable alpha-amylase under solid state fermentation. In: 27th Annual Conference of the Association of Microbiologists of India, Nagpur, India, Dec. 1986, Nagpur, p 10
Ramesh MV, Lonsane BK (1987a) Solid state fermentation for production of alpha-amylase by Bacillus megaterium 16M. Biotechnol Lett 9:323–328
Ramesh MV, Lonsane BK (1987b) A novel bacterial thermostable alpha-amylase system produced under solid state fermentation. Biotechnol Lett 9:501–504
Ramesh MV, Lonsane BK (1989) Solid state fermentation for production of higher titres of thermostable alpha-amylase with two peaks for pH optima by Bacillus licheniformis M27. Biotechnol Lett 11:49–52
Silman RW, Conway HF, Anderson RA, Bagley EB (1979) Production of aflatoxin in corn by a large scale solid-substrate fermentation process. Biotechnol Bioeng 21:1799–1808
Zadrazil F, Brunnert H (1981) Investigations on physical parameters important for the solid state fermentation of straw by white rot fungi. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 11:183–188
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Offprint requests to: B. K. Lonsane
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ramesh, M.V., Lonsane, B.K. Critical importance of moisture content of the medium in alpha-amylase production by Bacillus licheniformis M27 in a solid-state fermentation system. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 33, 501–505 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172541
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172541