Chitinolytic and Antagonistic Activity of Streptomyces Isolated from Fadama Soil against Phytopathogenic Fungi

Abstract

Chitinases which degrade chitin have attracted attention as biological antifungal agents. The purpose of this study is to isolate <i>Streptomyces</i> from Fadama soil and assess its chitinolytic and antagonist potential against phytopathogenic fungi for application as biocontrol agent. <i>Streptomyces</i> were isolated from Fadama soil. The selected isolate CT02 exhibited chitinolytic characteristics. Chitinase production was performed under different temperatures, pH and varying incubation period. The highest chitinase production by CT02 isolate was observed after five days of cultivation. The highest chitinase activity was observed at 35°C and pH 7. The crude extracellular enzyme exhibited a specific activity of 4.20 U/μg whereas partially purified extracellular enzyme exhibited a specific activity of 6.19 U/μg with purification fold of 1.47. The selected isolate CT02 and its extracellular crude chitinase showed <i>in vitro</i> antifungal antagonist potential by inhibiting the growth of <i>Aspergillus niger</i> and <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i>. This indicates that <i>Streptomyces</i> derived chitinases are potential biocontrol agents against phytopathogenic fungi.