Screening for amylase- and protease-producing bacteria from Indonesian peat soil

Mahdiyah, Dede; Darsono, Putri Vidiasari; Hidayah, Nur; Mukti, Bayu Hari; Sri Redjeki, Dwi Sogi

doi:10.21608/mid.2025.361709.2553

Screening for amylase- and protease-producing bacteria from Indonesian peat soil

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, Sari Mulia University, Banjarmasin, Indonesia

² Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sari Mulia University, Banjarmasin, Indonesia

³ Department of English Education, Sari Mulia University, Banjarmasin, Indonesia

10.21608/mid.2025.361709.2553

Abstract

Background: The exploration of microbial enzyme production is crucial for industrial and pharmaceutical applications. This study focuses on screening amylase- and protease-producing bacteria from Indonesian peat soil, a unique and underexplored ecosystem. Methods: Peat soil samples were collected from Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, and analyzed for physicochemical properties. Four bacterial isolates (psb-03, psb-05, psb-06, and psb-07) were screened for enzyme production using starch hydrolysis and skim milk agar methods. Results: The results demonstrated significant enzymatic activity, with all isolates exhibiting excellent relative enzyme activity (REA >1.5) for both amylase and protease production. The highest amylase production was observed in isolate psb-3 (clear zone diameter 18.27 ± 0.33 mm), while psb-7 exhibited the highest protease activity (clear zone diameter 16.67 ± 0.52 mm). The findings indicate that peat soil bacteria possess strong enzymatic potential, which can be further explored for industrial applications, including bioremediation, pharmaceuticals, and bio-based manufacturing. Additionally, the presence of proteolytic activity in these isolates suggests their role in bacterial metabolism and potential interactions in microbial communities. Further genomic and biochemical characterization is needed to identify the specific enzyme-producing genes and optimize production for commercial applications. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of peat soil as a valuable reservoir of biotechnologically relevant microorganisms, paving the way for sustainable enzyme-based solutions.

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