ISOLATION OF FUNGI ANTAGONISTIC TO FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM AND COMPARISON OF THEIR LYTIC ENZYME PROFILE

Abstract

Microbial biological control agents are more useful in various ways and use a great variety of mechanisms to protect
plants from pathogens and production of lytic enzyme is one of them. The present study shows the isolation,
identification and lytic enzyme profiles of fungi antagonistic to a well-known phytopathogen Fusarium oxysproum MTCC
4162, from the rhizosphere. Out of 22 isolates, 9 showed antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum MTCC 4162 in dual
culture method in vitro. Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus oryzae were the promising antagonists, followed by three species
of Aspergillus. The glucanase, chitinase and protease activities were identified using in vitro tests. Highest specific
glucanase activity was shown by P. notatum(118.65±10.5 µg glucose produced min-1mg
-1
protein), followed by R. oryzae
(107.20±11.2 µg glucose produced min-1mg
-1
protein).Penicillium notatum showed highest specific chitinase activity
(85.17±10.5 µg NAGA produced min-1mg
-1
protein) while highest specific protease activity was detected in R. oryzae
(133.28±15.8 µg tyrosine produced min-1mg
-1
protein). The study found correlation between antagonistic activity and
lytic enzymes activity.