Improvement of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes Production by Alginate Encapsulated Trichoderma spp.

Momein H. El-Katatny, Ahmed M. Hetta, Gehan M.Shaban and Hesham M. El-Komy*

Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, El-Minia University, El-Minia, 61519, Egypt

Article history:
Received: February 26, 2003
Accepted: June 9, 2003

Key words:
Trichoderma spp., biocontrol, chitinase, glucanase, immobilization, Ca-alginate

Summary:
Conidia of three Trichoderma isolates were formulated to make alginate pellets with or without 0.5 % chitin or dried fungal mycelium of Fusarium oxysporum as carbon source. The formulations were compared for their ability of in vitro chitinase and β
-1,3-glucanase production with free fungal spore suspensions. Conidia entrapped in alginate with or without adjuvant showed high production of enzymes (especially for chitinase) even when repeated 4 times. The addition of chitin or dried fungal mycelium as adjuvant enhanced the enzyme production up to 5 and 2-fold for chitinase and
β-1,3-glucanase, respectively. Alginate concentration and surface area of the beads affected the enzyme production. The optimum initial pH, incubation time and temperature were pH=6, 12 days and 40 °C for chitinase, and pH=7, 10 days and 35 °C for
β-1,3-glucanase production. The improvement of cell wall degrading enzyme production by alginate encapsulated Trichoderma could explain the in vivo inhibitory effect of such formulations on the target phytopathogenic fungi.

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