This book includes taxonomical, physiological, biochemical and molecular studies of amylolytic thermophilic actinomycetes. A total of 36 actinomycetes were isolated from soil, mushroom compost and other compost samples. Four of the isolated thermophilic actinomycetes that exhibited the highest amylolytic activities were characterized and identified as: Thermoactinomyces sp, T. vulgaris and T. intermedius (two isolates). T. vulgaris, the best producer of -amylase, was selected for further investigation. The optimum conditions for the production are: 24 hours incubation, 55 C, pH 7.0, starch...