Amylase-Producing Fungi from Cassava Peels: Isolation, Morphological Identification, and Hydrolytic Capability

Amylases are enzymes of considerable economic importance, extensively employed in the food, fermentation, textile, and biofuel sectors. Utilizing agro-industrial leftovers, like cassava peels, as substrates for enzyme-producing fungi is a sustainable and economical method for discovering microbial biocatalysts. This research sought to extract and evaluate fungal strains from degraded cassava peels for extracellular amylase production. Fungi were isolated via the pour plate method on potato dextrose agar and assessed for amylase production on starch agar medium, with hydrolysis zones detected through iodine staining. Of the four isolates obtained, two (AMYP 1 and AMYP 2) had positive amylase activity, with zones of clearance measuring 3.0 mm and 2.9 mm, respectively. Morphological characterization, utilizing colony morphology and microscopic attributes, classified AMYP 1 as Aspergillus flavus and AMYP 2 as Aspergillus niger. The results indicate that cassava peels serve as an effective substrate for the isolation of promising amylase-producing fungi. These isolates possess potential use in industrial starch degradation processes and facilitate waste valorization activities in accordance with circular bioeconomic principles.