Control of Plant Diseases by Chitinase Expressed from Cloned DNA in<i>Escherichia coli</i>

Abstract

When Sclerotium rolfsii was sprayed with partially purified chitinase produced by the cloned gene, rapid and extensive bursting of the hyphal tips was observed. This chitinase preparation was found to be effective in reduction of disease incidence caused by S. rolfsii in beans and Rhizoctonia solani in cotton under greenhouse conditions (62% disease reduction in both diseases). A similar effect was obtained when we used viable cells of E. coli containing the plasmid pLCHIA. However, E. coli carrying the plasmid lacking the pL promotor did not have any effect. These results suggest a role for chitinase in biological control of plant pathogenic fungi