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Preliminary investigation of amylase-producing bacteria from some cassava farms in Umudike, Abia State, South-East Nigeria
Abstract
Amylase producing microorganisms are richly distributed in environment where cassava is processed or where it is being cultivated. Isolation and identification of these microorganisms may be a step forward in providing ways of converting cassava into value added products for the benefit of man and farm animals. In this research, soil, water and air samples of three cassava farms located in Umudike community were examined for the presence of amylase producing bacteria. Isolation of these bacteria was carried out by culture plate method. The pure isolates were identified on the bases of their colonial morphology, microscopy and biochemical tests. The isolates obtained were mainly environmental contaminants though the gram positive isolates may possibly be used as starter cultures in cassava processing due to the possession of amylase but the gram negative isolate may not possibly be used due to the absence of amylase. Psuedomonas sp. was the only gram negative isolate identified while Bacillus sp., Corynebacterium sp. and Micrococcus sp. were the gram positive isolates identified. Bacillus sp. was the most prevalent isolate in all the samples investigated compared to the other isolates identified. We suggest that effort be made to validate these preliminary findings of the potentiality of these gram positive isolates identified as amylase producing bacteria in future studies.
Keywords: Amylase producing bacteria, and Cassava farms
