Chitinolytic activity of actinomycetes from a cerrado soil and their potential in biocontrol

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 146 - 150
• Main Authors: Gomes, R.C, Semedo, L.T.A.S, Soares, R.M.A, Alviano, C.S, Linhares, L.F, Coelho, R.R.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.02.2000; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Antibiosis; antifungal properties; beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase; Biological and medical sciences; biological control agents; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; Biotechnology; Chitin - metabolism; chitinase; Chitinases - metabolism; chitobiase; endochitinase; exochitinase; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungal antagonists; Isolation and description; Mission oriented research; Mitosporic Fungi - growth & development; O-glycoside hydrolases; Pest Control, Biological; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Soil Microbiology; Streptomyces; Streptomyces - enzymology; Streptomyces - growth & development; Chitinase; Soils; Enzyme; Glycosidases; Biological control; Bacteria; Hydrolases; Isolate; Actinomycetes; Chitin; O-Glycosidases; Application
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X; 1365-2673
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2000.00687.x

R.C. GOMES, L.T.A.S. SEME(r)DO, R.M.A. SOARES, C.S. ALVIANO, L.F. LINHARES and R.R.R. COELHO.2000.The crude enzyme extracts from five actinomycetes selected from a cerrado soil presented very good endochitinolytic activity when compared to a commercial chitinase. Exochitinase and chitobiase activities were also detected. They were identified as Streptomyces, but could not be characterized to species level, probably corresponding to new ones. The crude extracts, obtained from growth on fungal mycelium plus chitin of three of the strains, have shown a very pronounced activity against phytopathogenic fungi. In tests using growing cells, all five strains were active. These data suggest that these strains are potential biocontrol agents.