
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BS36 isolated from soil was tested for its biosurfactant production potential by utilizing different natural waste carbon substrates and its insecticidal activitywas evaluated. Among several natural substrates used in the present study, orange peel was found to be best substrate for biosurfactant production yield with surface tension of 80.04 mN/m and emulsification activity of 65%. Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to maximize biosurfactant production. Biosurfactant production increased 1.5 fold (28.17 mN/m) within 24 hrs compared to its production under the unoptimized conditions (41.88 nM/m). Qualitative analysis revealed that the isolated biosurfactant is of lipopeptide nature. Biosurfactant produced by B. amyloliquefaciens BS36 has an insecticidal activity against rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica).