Characteristics of Chitinase Produced from Lysobacter enzymogenes MG18S against Brown Patch of Turfgrass

Brown patch caused by Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) KACC 40151 is a serious disease of bentgrass species grown throughout most of the functional value of summer season. To evaluate the biological control agents against the fungal pathogens of turfgrass, characteristics of chitinase produced from Lyzobacter enzymogenes (L. enzymogenes) are investigated. Rhizosphere bacterium isolated from soil was identified as L. enzymogenes (99%) by 16S rRNA gene sequence. L. enzymogenes MG18S produced lytic enzymes such as chitinase, protease, and lipase on plate. Antifungal activity of MG18S showed an inhibition rate of 60% for R. solani KACC 40151. Chitinase activity increased rapidly to a maximum level (1.9 uint/mL) within 3 days after incubation with swollen chitin (pH 7.0). Two activity bands (28 and 23 kDa) of chitinase isomers revealed on SDS-PAGE gel at 5 days after incubation with colloidal chitin (pH 6.0). These results suggest that crude chitinase produced from L. enzymogenes MG18S plays an important role in the biocontrol of brown patch caused by R. solani KACC 40151.