EVALUATION OF A RECOMBINANT CHITINASE FROM Trichoderma harzianum AND ITS EFFECT ON Botrytis cinerea AND Alternaria alternata FUNGI

Abstract

Chitin is the main component of the cell wall of most fungi and the chitinase is essential for chitin degradation. The chitinase are proteins associated with pathogenicity and plant defensive responses to many pathogen infections. In this study, a gene that codified for a chitinase, indexed as Chit33, was isolated from a native Trichoderma harzianum strain. Gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The activity of the partially purified protein extract was evaluated against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternate fungi. The results showed a 50% reduction in the growth rate and inhibition of mycelial growth. Regarding structure, atrophied hyphae were also observed.