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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Phytase activity of bacteria, yeasts and moulds isolated from different ecosystems have been identified and studied by several researchers. The present study focused on isolation and identification of phytate solubilizing yeasts associated with freshly soaked cereals, pulses, condiments and oilseeds. Isolation on MRS-Calcium phytate at pH 6.2 ±0.2 resulted in a high diversity of microorganisms developing clear zones of phytate hydrolysis. Microscopic study revealed identification of three groups of phytate solubilizing organisms (viz., yeasts, bacteria and moulds); only yeasts were selected for the following study. Screening on phytase screening medium (phytate as the only source of P) confirmed the phytase activity of a few yeasts species within 2 to 4 h of inoculation. Morphological, physiological and 18SrRNA analysis confirmed that yeasts isolates belonged to the genera; Meyerozyma, Saccharomyces, Geotrichum and Rhodotorula species. This preliminary investigation has discovered a novel enzyme activity in Meyerozyma, Geotrichum and Rhodotorula which has not been reported earlier. Detail analysis of these identified strains with respect to phytate degradation in vitro and in vivo is being studied in our laboratory to check the potential application of its enzyme ‘phytase’ in the feed technology.