Abstract
AMYLASE PRODUCTION FROM MARINE BACTERIA MICROCOCCUS ROSEUS ASSOCIATED WITH POLYCHAETES

The present study was attempt to the isolation of a potential amylase producing bacterial strain from estuarine Polychaetes. Polychaetes were collected from Vellar estuary, the potential strains for amylase production were screened in starch agar. From the 15 bacterial strains was isolated. Micrococcus roseus was selected as the most potential strain for amylase production. The strain was optimized against the growth was found to be maximum with starch as a substrate (1% of starch), pH 7.5, temperature- 40ºC, 0.3% salt concentrations, 1% of nitrogen source and 0.3% of ionic concentration (K2HPO4). Whereas enzyme production was maximum at 35ºC, pH 7.5 starch as a substrate when it is used as 1%, 0.5% salt concentrations, 1% of nitrogen source and 0.3% of ionic concentration (K2HPO4). The growth was found to be minimum of the maltose used as a carbon source, temperature at 45ºC, pH 9.5, 2.0% nitrogen source, 0.5% of salt concentration, and 0.1% ionic concentration. Whereas the minimum of the enzyme production was observed at 40ºC, pH 9.5, when fructose used as carbon source, 2% of nitrogen source, 0.1 % of salt concentration and 0.1% of ionic concentration. The maximum enzyme activity observed was 4.2 U/ml for the strain which was comparable to the amylase activity, Based on the study, it can be concluded that bacteria associated with Polychaetes would serve as a potential source for the isolation amylase production.