Bacillus strains were isolated from highly alkaline soil from Himatnagar city of North Gujarat. The best amylase producing bacteria were screened on starch agar plate. Among the screened isolates highest amylase producer strain PR-I was selected, characterized and identified on the basis of 16S r -RNA sequence homology. The major cellular fatty acids of the strain were also identified. The strain was gram positive, spore forming and aerobic, motile bacillus species. 16S r- RNA sequence homology shows 99% similarity with Bacillus flexus. This strain grows in the pH range of 4.0 to 12. The optimum growth was obtained at pH 10 and temperature 37⁰ C. PR-1 produced extracellular alkaline amylase, and its maximal enzyme activity was observed at 45⁰C and10.0 pH.70% enzyme activity was retained at pH 12. The strain showed salt tolerance up to 4% of NaCl. The enzyme activity was found to be increased in the presence of Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺ cations. The results of the growth and enzyme activity were discussed.

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