Induction of chitinases and glucanases in Trichoderma spp. strains intended for biological control

Use of fungi of the Trichoderma genus for the biological control of pests and diseases is based, to a large extent, on their secretion of hydrolytic enzymes. The latter include chitinases and glucanases, which degrade the cell wall of phytopathogenic fungi as well as the cuticle of insects and nematodes. The aim of this study was to assess the induction dynamics of chitinases and glucanases in ten strains of Trichoderma spp. grown in liquid media with different inducers: basal medium, basal medium supplemented with 0.5% chitin and basal medium supplemented with 0.2% gelatin. Chitinase and glucanase activity were evaluated at the first, third, fifth and seventh day of culture. The highest values of chitinase activity were obtained in basal and basal media supplemented with chitin; ß-1.3-glucanase, on the other hand, exhibited higher levels of activity in basal and basal media supplemented with gelatin.