Alginate-entrapped sporangiospores of Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae were used for the production of glucoamylase. The critical variables that affected glucoamylase production were identified by Plackett-Burman design (sucrose, yeast-extract, K(2)HPO(4) and asparagine) and further optimized by using a four factor central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Immobilized sporangiospores secreted 41% and 60% higher glucoamylase titers in shake flasks and airlift fermenter, respectively, when the variables were used at their optimum levels (sucrose 3.0%, yeast-extract 0.2%, K(2)HPO(4) 0.1% and asparagine 0.35%). Glucoamylase production (26.3 U ml(-1)) in the optimized medium was in good agreement with the values predicted by the quadratic model (26.7 U ml(-1)), thereby confirming its validity. The enzyme production was sustainable in flasks of higher volume and also airlift fermenter, and attained a peak within 32 h in the fermenter as compared to that of 48 h in shake flasks.