Comparison of in vitro Antifungal Activity Methods Using Aeromonas sp. BHC02 Chitinase, Whose Physicochemical Properties were Determined as Antifungal Agent Candidate

Abstract

Abstract Biological control to prevent fungal plant diseases offers and alternative approach to faciliate sustainable agriculture. Since inhibition of chitinolytic fungal cell walls synthesis is a target for antifungal agents, chitinases are one of the biocontrol agents. This study, it was aimed to investigate isolating a new bacterium from fluvial soil as a chitinase source and the antifungal activity of the characterized chitinase. During planning the in vitro antifungal activity, three common methods were preferred and compared. The bacterium with the highest chitinase activity was identified as Aeromanas caviae by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Following the determination of the optimum enzyme production time, the enzyme was partially purified, and the physicochemical parameters of the enzyme were investigated. It was determined that the partially purified chitinase showed antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani, Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium sp. This study also conclude that the results of the antifungal activities depend on the method used. And all fungal chitins cannot be degraded with a chitinase. Depending on the variety of chitin, some fungi can be more resistant. In this context, it is necessary to conduct a detailed study on the chitins in the cell wall of the fungi.