Abstract
Termites are important pest of crops, trees, and household wooden installments. Two species Coptotermes heimi and Heterotermes indicola are the major species of termites that results in great economic loss in Asia including Pakistan. Chitinases have drawn interest because of their relevance as biological control of pests. The study was performed to screen chitinolytic bacteria from dead termites and to determine their chitinolytic activity in degrading chitin content of termites. Ten isolates were obtained forming clear zones on chitin-containing agar plates. One isolate (JF66) had the highest (3.3 mm) chitinolytic index. Based on sequence of 16S rRNA gene, the isolate was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia with (99%) similarity under Accession number KC849451 (JF66), and DNA G + C content was found to be (54.17%). S. maltophilia (JF66) produces chitinases upto 1757.41 U/ml at 30 °C and pH 6.0 employing diammonium phosphate as a nitrogen source. Chitinase gene was also extracted and gets sequenced that confirmed its presence. Whole culture and different concentrations of crude enzyme of the isolate were tested on the chitin covering of termites. Mortalities showed that crude enzyme of isolate could degrade chitin of both species of the termites C. heimi and H. indicola. Chitinase produced by S. maltophilia had potential application as biocontrol agent for termites, but it is assumed that purification of chitinases may produce more prominent results.
Highlights
Men have always required control measures for destructive insects like mosquitoes, bed bugs, crop pests, and many those competing with their assets such as termites
Processing of chitin containing waste Chitin was used as a sole carbon source for the production of bacterial chitinases
This crude chitin was further processed for attaining colloidal chitin for the production of chitinases
Summary
Men have always required control measures for destructive insects like mosquitoes, bed bugs, crop pests, and many those competing with their assets such as termites. Natural enemies are affected when pesticides are applied hastily, which resulted in a resistant pest population, damaging crops and other products (Pohanka 2006; Thomas and Read 2007; Kumar et al 2008). Pakistan is an agricultural country, and its economy depends on cash crops that are severely damaged by termite’s infestation. In this region, two termite species Heterotermes and Coptotermes belong to Rhinotermitidae family are of immense economical importance. Two termite species Heterotermes and Coptotermes belong to Rhinotermitidae family are of immense economical importance They build shelter tubes with soil, fecal material, and saliva but feed on vital plant parts and wood (Jenkins et al 2002; Qasim et Jabeen et al Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control (2018) 28:86 al. In Pakistan, especially the two termite species Coptotermes heimi and Heterotermes indicola attack wood and wooden material (Saliha et al 2012)
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