Abstract
Chitin is an important component of the exteriors of insects and fungi. Upon degradation of chitin by a number of organisms, severe damage and even death may occur in pathogens and pests whose external surfaces contain this polymer. Currently, chemical fungicides and insecticides are the major means of controlling these disease-causing agents. However, due to the potential harm that these chemicals cause to the environment and to human and animal health, new strategies are being developed to replace or reduce the use of fungal- and pest-killing compounds in agriculture. In this context, chitinolytic microorganisms are likely to play an important role as biocontrol agents and pathogen antagonists and may also function in the control of postharvest rot. In this review, we discuss the literature concerning chitin and the basic knowledge of chitin-degrading enzymes, and also describe the biocontrol effects of chitinolytic microorganisms and their potential use as more sustainable pesticides and fungicides in the field.
Highlights
Chitin in nature is both abundant and widespread
We analyze the literature on chitin-degrading enzymes in microorganisms that have potential as biocontrol agents, and describe the different uses and modes of action that a microbial inoculant should have against pathogens, in the field, and relative to postharvest storage
Chitinases are important for pest and pathogen control
Summary
Chitin in nature is both abundant and widespread. it is one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth, second only to cellulose. Crops worldwide are completely dependent on the use of fungicides and pesticides to reduce loss, but the major problem of using these chemicals is that the target organisms often develop resistance to them. A study on honey has found that the samples contained pesticides [6] Public concern about these chemical residues as well as the development of fungicide resistance by pathogens have prompted the development of alternative approaches to control both pre- and postharvest diseases [3]. We analyze the literature on chitin-degrading enzymes in microorganisms that have potential as biocontrol agents, and describe the different uses and modes of action that a microbial inoculant should have against pathogens, in the field, and relative to postharvest storage. We describe several assays for screening previously under-studied microbial species for chitinolytic activity in order to facilitate their characterization and use in place of pesticides
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