Factors affecting the chitinase activity of Trichoderma asperellum isolated from agriculture field soils

In the present study, 20 fungal strains were isolated from tomato rhizosphere of Senegal. Of 20 strains, five showedthe chitinolytic activity on chitin agar medium. Of the five strains, NG4 showed the maximum solubilization zone.This strain was identified by preliminary biochemical and 18S rRNA sequencing analysis. Enzyme productionstarted after 3 days of incubation and maximum was observed after 5 days of incubation. Culture filtrate amendedwith 0.1% colloidal chitin was used in the production medium. The optimum conditions for maximum chitinaseactivity are – 6 days of growth and temperature of 30°C at pH 6.0. The chitinase activity was also influenced by theaddition of carbon and nitrogen sources in the production medium.