THE PRODUCTION OF GLUCOAMYLASE BY ASPERGILLUS-NIGER NCIM-1245

The production of glucoamylase was carried out by surface culture of A spergillus niger NCIM 1245 using different substrates in solid state f ermentation. Wheat bran (WB) and rice bran (RB) were evaluated to test their efficiency as sole carbon sources for enzyme formation and WB p roduced a higher enzyme productivity. The partial replacement of WB wi th other substrates, including rice flour, rice husk, rice bran, wheat flour, corn flour, corn starch and bengal gram flour showed a varying trend of enzyme production. Maximum enzyme activities were obtained w hen WB mixed with corn flour (9:1, w/w) was allowed to ferment for 96 h at 30 +/- 1-degrees-C under humid conditions, maintaining an initial substrate moisture of about 55% and pH 4.7. Dry matter loss increased with the time course of cultivation. Scanning Electron Microscopic (S EM) studies showed the penetration of fungal mycelia into substrate pa rticles.