Production of chitinase enzyme by Beauveria bassiana against Tribolium castaneum
Muslimin Sepe12, Itji Diana Daud3, Ahdin Gassa3, Firdaus4

1Program of Agriculture, Graduate School, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
2Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Gorontalo Ichsan University, Indonesia
3Department of Plant Pests and Diseases, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
4Departement of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia

Abstract

Beauveria bassiana is one of the microorganisms that produce the enzyme chitinase. Chitinase has a high economic value which is widely used as a biocontrol agent because it can degrade chitin into an environmentally friendly product. The aims of this study was to investigate the production of chitinase by B. bassiana isolate in the presence of the cuticle of T. castaneum. In this study, the isolates of B. bassiana were cultured into potato dextrose agar. Further isolation, purification, and determination of the activity of chitinase. The results show that chitinase can be obtained from B. bassiana isolate derived from T. castaneum by using chitin colloidal substrate. The highest average specific activity of chitinase originates from isolated B. bassiana was 1 Unit/mg. Protein test using standard BSA solution and Lowry method obtained reading results with a spectrophotometer that was r = 0,9925.

Keywords: Beuveria bassiana- Biocontrol agent- Enzyme Chitinase- Tribolium castaneum

Topic: Integrated Pest and Disease Management