Optimization of Pectinase Production from Bacilluslechniformis FH4-IRQ

Bacillus licheniformis FH4-IRQ, strain isolated from soil of Iraq (submitted in NCBI since October 2013 with accession no. KF531930) was examined for pectinase production in pectinase production media with optimization of different conditions including incubation period, carbon source, nitrogen source, incubation temperature and pH. Twenty four hour incubation period seems with higher production yield (12.67 U/ml) when comparing with 48 hr (10.73U/ml) and 72 hr (4.1 U/ml). Glucose (71.5 U/ml) and lactose (64.6 U/ml) seems better as a carbon source for pectinase production than starch (19.46 U/ml) and mannitol (15.47 U/ml). Different nitrogen sources were examined (peptone, ureae, ammonium chloride and sodium nitrat, urea was accompanied with higher yield (15.49 U/ml) than others. Temperature and pH value were also optimized for pectinase production, 37C gave higher production (12.67 U/ml) than other incubation temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 C), pH 9 was the best (34.2 U/ml) comparing with other pH value tested (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10).