Description

Used to determine if bacteria produce extracellular enzymes to catalyze the hydrolysis of starch. Starch agar is inoculated and incubated at 37?C. After 48 hours the surface of the agar is flooded with potassium/potassium iodide solution. Organisms that produce a starch hydrolyzing enzyme will display a clear zone around the area of growth while other areas of the agar containing starch will turn blue-black.