title: Antifungal activity of chitinases produced by some fluorescent pseudomonads against Colletotrichum falcatum Went causing red rot disease in sugarcane.
abstract: Chitinase production and growth of certain fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from sugarcane rhizosphere on different subtrates were studied. When chitin was substituted for glycerol in King's B medium, 3 of the 4 strains showed enhanced bacterial multiplication. Bacterial cells grown on chitin-containing medium showed enhanced antifungal activity against Colletotrichum falcatum Went causing red rot disease in sugarcane. Chitinase production was significantly higher when chitin was amended to King's B medium. Higher chitinase production was also recorded when fluorescent pseudomonad strains were grown in the medium containing crab-shell chitin. Cell-free bacterial culture filtrate from chitin-containing medium significantly inhibited mycelial growth of the pathogen. These cell-free conditioned media contained 3 to 7 polypeptides. Western blot analysis revealed five isoforms of chitinase with molecular masses of 47, 36, 32, 20 and 18.5 kDa. A possible role of chitinases in red rot disease management is discussed.
authors: Plant Pathology Section, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Coimbatore.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Viswanathan
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Samiyappan
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002688:Chitinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020231:Colletotrichum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D011548:Pseudomonadaceae / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D010455:Peptides; D002688:Chitinases