Detection of Thermostable Amylases Produced by Thermophilic Fungi Isolated from some Ethiopian Hyper-Thermal Springs

One thousand five hundred and nine thermophilic strains of water and soil fungi from six hyperthermal springs of Ethiopia (Arbaminch, Awassa, Nazret, Shalla/Abijata, Wendo Genet and Yirgalem) were isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar at 45oC for 3 to 5 days. Amylase active fungi were detected by growing the purified organisms on starch agar plates and flooding by Gram’s iodine solution. During their metabolism 61 strains (about 4.04%) formed a clear halo around the colony while flooded with Gram’s iodine solution indicating starch degradation. While nearly 37.5% of the crude alpha amylase extracts obtained from the strains isolated from Shalla/Abijata showed activity at 60oC only about 8% of those obtained from Arbaminch effectively hydrolyzed starch at this temperature. Further purification and characterization studies of enzyme will lead to a better knowledge of promising candidates of thermophilic microorganisms and processing conditions for enhanced production of thermostable amylolytic enzymes.