For this study 3 samples of the home-made meju and 3 samples of the improved meju were selected according to their characteristics. A total of 25 strains of true fungi were isolated from the samples of the home-made meju and identified by the Key of Alexopoulos and Raper, using a strain Aspergillus oryzae A-113 as a control. Amylolytic and proteolytic enzyme activities of the isolated strains were investigated and the results obtained were as follows.
1. The 25 strains from the home-made meju were identified into 2 Aspergillus oryzae, 14 Asp. flavus, 6 Penicillum spp. 1 Candida sp 1 Spicaria sp and 1 Rhizopus sp.
2. The 3 strains from the improved meju were all identified as Aspergillus oryzae.
3. Aspergillus flavus, A-B, from the home-made meju was found to be the strongest strain in a-amylase activity and also to be similar to the strains of Aspergillus orzae from improved meju.
4. Aspergillus flavus, A-7, from the home-made meju was found to be the strogest strain in β-amylase activity and stronger than that from the improved meju.
5. Aspergillus flavus B-3, was found to be the strongest strain in protease activity and stronger than that from the improved meju.
6. Some of the strains from the home-made meju turned out to be harmful strains, such as Penicillium spp. which secrete antibiotics, Asp. flavus which secretes mycotoxin, Candida sp which causes skin diseases, Spicaria sp. which is a insect pathogen.
7. Rhixopus sp was also found but it has not been proved to be harmful.
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