Characterization of thermophilic bacterium: a compost pile isolate.

Starch degrading Gram positive rod shaped bacterium was isolated from compost pile. AMorphological and biochemical characters of strain indicates that it belongs to the genusBacillus. Amylolytic activity of the strain recorded was 2.4 U/ml. Optimum catalytic activityof the strain was recorded at pH 8 and temperature at 40oC.