Molds isolated from chicken feed as potential amylase resources

Abstract

Amylase enzyme has been widely used for food industries since centuries. Molds are known to be the source for industrial amylase production and this enzyme can potentially increase the efficiency of chicken feed. The aim of this study is to screen the molds isolated from chicken feed collected in UNJCC to produce amylase enzyme. Screening was carried out to select the most potent isolates producing amylase enzymes based on amylolytic index values, using starch agar medium incubated for 4 days at 28 °C. Molecular identification was performed based on rDNA region and was confirmed by macroscopic and microscopic morphological characters. The screening results showed that out of 42 isolates, 10 strains can produce amylase. The result showed that isolates K02, K17 and K26 had the largest IA values of 1,298, 1,132 and 1,066, respectively. Isolate K02 was identified as Aspergillus versicolor, while isolate K17 was identified as Penicillium tardochrysogenum with 100% similarity. Isolate K26 was identified at the genus level, Penicillium, with the highest similarity with Penicillium chrysogenum at 99.67%. The presence of Aspergillus and Penicillium group in the chicken feed exhibited the great importance of molds amylase in feed fermentation. Therefore, they could further be utilized in the fermentation industry for improving cost-effectiveness of the production