LACTOBACILLUS AMYLOVORUS AS A PHYTASE PRODUCER IN SUBMERGED CULTURE

Nineteen strains of lactic acid producing bacteria of the genera Lacto bacillus and Streptococcus collected from different culture collection s mere screened for the production of extracellular phytase. A number of them exhibited the enzyme activity in the fermentation medium but L actobacillus amylovorus B4552 produced the maximum amounts of phytase ranging from 125 to 146 units ml(-1) extracellularly under the submerg ed cultivation conditions. The optimum glucose and inorganic phosphate levels for highest phytase production were found to be 1% and 24% mg, respectively. Lactobacillus amylovorus has potential in improving nut ritional qualities of cereal and pulse-based food fermentations.