title: Studies on Exo-Chitinase Production from Trichoderma asperellum UTP-16 and Its Characterization.
abstract: The growth conditions for chitinase production by Trichoderma asperellum UTP-16 in solid state fermentation was optimized using response surface methodology based on central composite design. The chitinase production was optimized, using one-factor at a time approach, with six independent variables (temperature, pH, NaCl, incubation period, nitrogen and carbon sources) and 3.31 Units per gram dry substrate (U gds(-1)) exo-chitinase yield was obtained. A 21.15% increase was recorded in chitinase activity (4.01 U gds(-1)) through surface response methodology, indicates that it is a powerful and rapid tool for optimization of physical and nutritional variables. Further, efficiency of crude enzyme was evaluated against phytopathogenic Fusarium spp. and a mycelial growth inhibition up to 3.5-6.5 mm was achieved in well diffusion assay. These results could be supplemented as basic information for the development of enzyme based formulation of T. asperellum UTP-16 and its use as a biocontrol agent.
authors.affiliation: National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (NBAIM), Mau, Uttar Pradesh 275101 India.
authors.forename: D Praveen
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Anupama
authors.forename: Manoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.forename: Sudheer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Alok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Pradeep K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: Dilip K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Arora
keywords: Antifungal activity; Central composite design; Chitinase; Solid state fermentation