ABSTRACT
In tea, bacterial biocontrol agents viz. Bacillus and Pseudomonas and an enzyme like chitinase from these bacterial strains are used to control tea pests and pathogens. However, literature on molecular identification of the same is quite scarce. In this study, Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains isolated from tea soil samples, were systematically identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Molecular characterization of bacteria was carried out to identify the species of different level chitinase producing bacteria and diversity among them. Further, chitinase gene was characterized from these bacteria to understand the gene diversity among different bacterial chitinase that has potential application in controlling the plant pests and pathogens. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and chitinase gene sequences was made among thirteen Bacillus and five Pseudomonas species submitted in NCBI Genbank.